Council has announced ten new Y4Y (Youth for Youth) Action Team members, to represent young people on the coast.

To ensure the continued and meaningful engagement of young people in the region, Council is excited to introduce the 2024 Y4Y Action Team.
Y4Y Youth Action members are:

Anannya Bandaru, Isabelle Ince, Janine Southwell, Jasper Blakely, Lilia Olaru-Mohr, Lily Arendse, Maddison Elwine-Wilson, Malcolm Barlett, Simran Nathani and Travis Pankhurst.

Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the Y4Y Action Team aims to meaningfully engage young people on the Central Coast, drawing on their own skills, experience and networks and helping to further develop them.

“Through their position as representatives of Y4Y Action Team, members contribute to a community program, the development of a legacy item for young people and a community campaign based on a theme of the Central Coast Youth Strategy,” Ms Smith said.

“With members aged 14 to 24 years, the Y4Y Action Team has doubled this year due to an increase in applications during recruitment. The new team mirrors the diversity of the region including young people who live, work or study on the Central Coast.” 

As part of the Y4Y Action Team, the new team will meet regularly and work on a range of initiatives and development opportunities – from running the annual Youth Week Awards and youth forum, to organising local youth-focused programs, advocating, and advising on local youth-related initiatives and issues.
This year’s team will deliver a community ‘Inclusion Day’ event in December 2024 to celebrate different cultures and activities that young people can participate in.

Administrator Rik Hart said now in its fifth year, the Y4Y Action Team has developed a thriving network in the local youth sector committed to working with Council to continue to create positive change and shape a thriving, dynamic Central Coast community guided by the Central Coast Youth Strategy.

“Throughout 2023, the previous members of the Y4Y Action Team worked to actively promote the inclusion of young people’s voices through diverse strategies,” Mr Hart said.

“Members participated in youth-led initiatives and forums, contributed to social media campaigns, and used their experience to provide valuable feedback to Council programmes.

“While Council welcomes the next cohort of 2024 Y4Y Action Team, we would like to take the opportunity to thank all past program participants for their time and efforts working with Council, and who now make up the Y4Y Alumni Team where they continue to have opportunity to participate in community initiatives.”

Meet the new members by exploring their journey via the social media hashtag #Y4YCC For further information about Council programmes for young people visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/youth