Mosman Council and Y Vote call on Mosman’s youth for civic leadership
Mosman Youth Service volunteer groups just celebrated National Youth Week, hosting a carnival-style event called Raise the Youth where they shared their campaigns in environmental sustainability, nutrition, community gardening and music event management. They were also involved in managing ShoreShocked 2019, an all ages music festival at St Leonards Park attended by more than 1,500 people.
Youth Week, which encourages young people to express their views and get involved in issues that affect their lives, also marked the local launch of Emerging Civic Leaders, a program to engage young people in shaping the future of their community. A joint initiative of Mosman Council and social enterprise group Y Vote, the program will also involve local young people in a ‘Pledge to Vote’ campaign in the lead up to the federal election on 18 May.
Mosman Youth Service volunteers Beau Dietz and Jamie Foster are spearheading the program as Mosman’s Emerging Civic Leaders Ambassadors. Both were acknowledged at a Mosman Youth Volunteer Recognition Ceremony last year for their many years of voluntary service.
Beau said he is looking forward to encouraging his peers. “We’re interested in young people voting on issues that can affect them directly, like student fees, public transport, festivals legislation or even affordable housing. We want young people to be able to have an informed vote and understand the power of their vote, and not base their choices on preferences of family or friends,” he said.
Mayor Corrigan commended Mosman’s youth and said they deserve to have their priorities heard. “Mosman’s young people are an engaged and active group in the community. Their views are important and their contribution is significant. They are entitled to be heard and to be respected as our future community leaders.”
The Mayor runs an open door session for young people on the first Monday of every month, inviting them to voice their concerns and providing them with an opportunity to informally engage with Council.
Skye Riggs, founder of Y Vote, said she was excited to offer the Emerging Civic Leaders program in Mosman. “We’re thrilled to run this program in Mosman, especially with young leaders like Jamie and Beau as ambassadors. Mosman Council has a long-standing commitment to hearing the voices of its young citizens, and I’m excited to see what they achieve in their campaign,” she said.
The program will give participants the opportunity to develop practical skills and learn from social change makers, media commentators and young entrepreneurs. The online course focuses on building civic capabilities, with the non-partisan campaign to increase youth voter participation, and more widely to encourage young people to make their voices heard in democratic processes.
Emerging Civic Leaders is running weekly at the Mosman Youth Centre. Young people aged 16-24 who live, work or study in Mosman are invited to apply online at yvote.com.au/emerging-civic-leaders-mosman or by calling Mosman Youth Service on 9978 4144.