YOUTH Council member Montana Earle has big plans for the young people of Swan Hill.
The 15-year-old meets weekly with fellow youth council members to discuss ideas and coordinate events.
At a recent meeting, the council put in motion plans for their next under-age drug and alcohol free rave, called Neon Devu.
Currently in Year 10 at Swan Hill College, Ms Earle hopes to work as a National Park ranger when she finishes school.
“I’m interested in science, nature, being outdoors.”
The youth council is one of the ways she is gaining skills for her future.
Ms Earle said she and her fellow councillors felt a sense of “belonging” by taking part.
“It’s made me more confident, and sort of given me a sense of belonging,” she said.
Ms Earle has just come out of training for the state-wide youth congress program in Castlemaine.
The program aims to give young people a voice and inspire them to create change in their communities.
Ms Earle was a facilitator at last year’s congress in Swan Hill and said she loved the experience.
The Youth Congress is a program delivered to Victorian schools by OZGREEN, which promotes learning and leadership for sustainability, social innovation and community driven change among young people.
It was founded by Sue Lennox, who gave a talk to visiting young people in Castlemaine
“It was really inspirational to hear all of her stories about the people’s she’s met,” Ms Earle said.
“She gave up everything to pursue her goal, and it paid off for her and for all the young people she’s helped.
“At the training she was teaching young people what matters and what they need to change to save the world.”
Ms Earle said it was unclear whether they would host another youth congress, but that she would hopefully be involved in a congress at one of the region’s local schools.
She said reports that Swan Hill’s Youth Program might not receive the same level of funding in the 2014-15 budget was “disappointing” for youth council members.
“It does worry me,” she said.
“The youth really do need a lot of support and it’s disappointing to hear we won’t always get that.”
She said the benefit of the youth council was that ideas and initiatives came out of the young people themselves.
“All our ideas are coming out of us, because a grown-up doesn’t always think like we do,” she said.
The youth council are hoping to continue to recruit new members.
“Hopefully we can get more young people involved,” she said.
“The group is for everyone aged between 12 and 25. You get a sense of belonging, you get to put your ideas forward and you’re listened to.”
