youth committee for the hunter
WhAT is the Youth Committee for the HunteR?
The Youth Committee for the Hunter was established in 2021 to provide a unified voice for young people living in the Hunter.
As a diverse group of highly motivated young people and with representation crossing the Lower and Upper Hunter and a range of communities, the Youth Committee is fast becoming the go to for advice on youth matters in the region.
We are seeking partners who can help achieve the full potential of the Youth Committee. There are a range of sponsorship options we can explore aligned to your organisation’s values, priorities and budgets. These include funding linked to a particular activity, a donation to deliver across the annual program, or pro bono support for the signature research publication.
Now is the time to get behind the young people of the Hunter, help raise awareness of the issues that matter and get their priorities to the centre of decisions. Imagine what the Youth Committee can achieve for the region and our young leaders of tomorrow with more support and resources.
Please refer to the Youth Sponsorship Prospectus for more information.
Current members:
- Dylan Shoesmith – Lake Macquarie
- Joel Mackaway – Singleton
- Claire Bertholli – Newcastle
- Isaac Conway – Maitland
- Melanie Gibson – Maitland
- Shaun Guilfoyle – Cessnock City Council
- Myles Egan – Singleton
Going places – Transport and Accessibility for Young People in the Hunter
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Transport Links Us to Places, Opportunities, and One Another: Transport determines where we live, learn, work, and socialise. For young people in the Hunter, it is a key determinant of life outcomes.
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Safe, Reliable, Accessible, and Frequent Public Transport: Far from being a matter of convenience, access to public transport enables young people to learn, work, play, and thrive in their home region.
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Geographical and Experiential Diversity: The Hunter’s diverse geography, from the Barrington hinterland to Newcastle’s sprawling suburbs, mirrors the diverse experiences and needs of our young residents.
YOUTH VOICE SURVEY
Youth Voice Hunter 2022 is the result of a region-wide survey to better understand the aspirations, perspectives and ideas of young people.
The survey was open to young people aged 15-30 living in the ten local government areas of the Greater Hunter.
We are pleased to share the results with government, regional leaders, stakeholders and communities to help give young people a louder voice and a bigger role in shaping the Hunter’s future.
The survey will be run every two years, providing a valuable resource for decision-makers and fellow advocates for the young people of the Hunter.
Why a youth voice matters
Young people – their ideas, ingenuity and enterprise – are the region’s most valuable resource in the new economy. It will be the young people of the Hunter who will reap the long-term benefits or consequences of decisions made today. And they are a growing force in our society. People aged 15 – 29 make up 18 per cent of the population in the Greater Hunter. With over 100,000 young people voting in the 2022 election, the influence of Hunter youth in politics will continue to increase over the next decade.
August 2024: Media Release – Hunter Youth transport challenges unveiled in new report
1 August 2024
The Committee for the Hunter Youth Committee has released a vital report, Going Places – Transport and Accessibility for Youth in the Hunter. The report highlights the critical role and of transport in shaping the life outcomes of young people in the Hunter region.
The report was officially launched by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, The Hon. Jenny Aitchison, MP, yesterday in Maitland.
Key Themes of the Report:
- Transport Links Us to Places, Opportunities, and One Another: Transport determines where we live, learn, work, and socialise. For young people in the Hunter, it is a key determinant of life outcomes.
- Safe, Reliable, Accessible, and Frequent Public Transport: Far from being a matter of convenience, access to public transport enables young people to learn, work, play, and thrive in their home region.
- Geographical and Experiential Diversity: The Hunter’s diverse geography, from the Barrington hinterland to Newcastle’s sprawling suburbs, mirrors the diverse experiences and needs of our young residents.
In 2022, the Youth Committee for the Hunter conducted the region’s first comprehensive survey of young people, aged 18 to 35, to understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations for the future. Hundreds of respondents shared their experiences across various issues, including education, employment, safety, climate change, and the net zero economy. The availability and suitability of public transport emerged as a critical underpinning issue across all these areas.
Alice Thompson, CEO of the Committee for the Hunter, emphasises the importance of this report:
“This report captures the voices of young people in the Hunter and highlights how essential transport is to their daily lives and future opportunities. By improving transport and accessibility, we can ensure that young people in the Hunter are able to reach their full potential, contributing to the vibrant future of our region.”
The Going Places – Transport and Accessibility for Youth in the Hunter report is a call to action for stakeholders at all levels to prioritise and invest in transport solutions that meet the needs of young people across the Hunter region.
For more information, please contact Jill Stewart, Manager, Committee for the Hunter:
jill.stewart@hunter.org.au / 0491 626 348
December 2021: Media Release – #youthvoicehunter
15 December 2021: Media Release – #youthvoicehunter
The Youth Committee for the Hunter is excited to launch the ‘Youth Voice Hunter’ campaign, the Hunter’s largest youth online survey which will collect the perspectives, ambitions and aspirations of people aged 15-29 across the Hunter.
The online survey will run from 13 December to 23 January and will provide a clear youth voice in the upcoming federal and state elections. Prizes will be on offer for participants who complete the survey.
“The Hunter has found itself at a crossroads,” said Dylan Shoesmith, a member of the Youth Committee for the Hunter.
“It is crucial that we make the case now of what needs to be done so that the Hunter can enjoy continued growth and prosperity into the future. It will be young people in the Hunter who will either reap the benefits or suffer the consequences of the decisions governments make today.”
Alice Thompson, CEO of the Committee for the Hunter, welcomed the opportunity to facilitate the Youth Committee’s advocacy campaign.
“As a future-focused organisation, it is vital that the Committee engages with young people across the region and advocates for the issues that matter to them. We must try harder as a region to help their voices to be heard and give them a role in shaping our region’s bright future.” said Ms Thompson.
The survey available on the Committee for the Hunter’s website on the youth committee page, and is open to young people across the ten Hunter local government areas of Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid Coast, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, and Upper Hunter.
The results of the survey will help to inform advocacy programs and government submissions by the Committee for the Hunter.
Media contact:
Alice Thompson
CEO
Committee for the Hunter
0490 688 125
ceo@hunter.org.au
May 2021: Media Release – Youth Committee for the Hunter
May 2021: Media Release – Youth Committee for the Hunter
Following a successful recruitment drive across the whole of the Hunter region, the Committee for the Hunter has appointed the first nine members of its inaugural Youth Committee for the Hunter.
The Youth Committee delivers on the Committee for the Hunter’s commitment to expand opportunities for young people and provide them with a voice on regional priorities.
The Youth Committee is a diverse group of motivated young people who are engaged in the issues affecting young people and the region and are committed to working collaboratively to do something about these.
The Committee for the Hunter is pleased to introduce the 2021 Youth Committee members:
- Lauren Armstrong – Newcastle
- Claire Bertholli – Newcastle
- Isaac Conway – Port Stephens
- Melanie Gibson – Maitland
- Kelsey Gray Lake – Macquarie
- Shaun Guilfoyle – Cessnock City Council
- Ryan Maginnity – Lake Macquarie
- Gabriella Maughan – Newcastle
- Dylan Shoesmith – Lake Macquarie
Selection panel member, Wayne Johnson, ARTC Group Executive Hunter Valley Network, Hunter Valley, said that the announcement of the members of the Youth Committee for the Hunter is a positive and exciting step toward ensuring the youth in the region can impact our future initiatives.
“I applaud the enthusiasm and commitment the inaugural members of the Youth Committee bring to this important platform. ARTC sees this as a powerful opportunity for the young people of the community to help shape the future,” said Mr Johnson.
The group will convene its first meeting in May, where it will agree its terms of reference and nominate a representative to serve as a director of the Committee for the Hunter, giving young people a voice on the board.
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Media contact:
Alice Thompson
CEO
Committee for the Hunter
0490 688 125
ceo at hunter dot org dot au