Moorabool Shire Council
Connecting With My Local Community
From 2020 to 2022 I was a member of the Youth Action Group (YAG) where I had the opportunity to work alongside other youth members who also wanted to share their ideas, engage with the community, and actively participate in the Council’s processes for organising local events. Despite originally seeing the pandemic lockdowns as a barrier preventing people from connecting with each other, it made me think of ways to run events online that could still engage youth in the community. For instance, I proposed the idea of running an online writing competition for young people to express the positive aspects of the COVID-19 lifestyle they were living. Once this proposal was made I worked alongside my Youth Development Officer (Aidan Cole) and my fellow YAG members and we created the event plan and brainstormed ways of attracting people to the online event. This was followed by deciding to announce the competition winners at the annual Youth Forum to bring greater awareness about the importance of mental health. Planning the Youth Forum involved organising a speaker, Peter “Spida” Everitt (former AFL footballer), to speak to our attendees about his mental health journey and the steps he took to get help and how he took care of himself. As the date for the event approached, I was told I would be hosting the event which made me extremely nervous because I had never acted as host for an event. With my nerves sky high, I pushed through and hosted the event! The event was successful with interactive attendees, winners of the writing competition announced (prizes were delivered to them as a reward), and we were able to put a positive spin on the pandemic for youth in the community, which seemed at first like a distant goal. Yet we achieved it.
Stepping Outside Of My Comfort Zone
After the experience of running the 2020 Youth Forum, I stepped outside my comfort zone by representing Moorabool Shire Council at the 2020 Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Youth Leadership Project, where I participated in discussions aimed at making more leadership opportunities available for students to pursue. This was followed by applying for and being granted the Victorian Youth Week 2021 Grant. This was used to run the Moorabool’s Got Talent 2021 Competition, enabling young people to showcase their unique talents while receiving the appreciation they deserve by being featured in the local newspaper. I then organised and co-hosted the council’s 2021 Youth Forum, and 2022 Youth Forum and Youth Awards. Both forums involved identifying where improvements could be made in youth program plans, critically evaluating feedback, and adapting to changes.
As a result of my continuous work with the council and local community I was awarded the 2021 Certificate of Appreciation, the 2022 Certificate of Appreciation, the 2022 Positive Influencer Moorabool Youth Award, and the 2023 Certificate of Achievement at Moorabool Shire Council’s Australian Citizenship and Awards Ceremony. Lastly, I was the sole recipient for Young Citizen of the Year 2024 for volunteering with St. John Ambulance, contributing to the local community alongside the Moorabool Shire Youth Action Group, and for active involvement in extra-curricular activities of St. Francis Catholic College. I would not have received these awards without significantly developing my interpersonal skillset, learning to collaborate with a diverse range of colleagues, and understanding the importance for maintaining sound judgement in any scenario.
My Impact On The Youth Action Group
Demonstrating my eagerness to contribute to the planning, organisation, and delivery of local events allowed me to set a positive example and inspire my fellow Youth Action Group members to do the same. This was particularly important during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period many of us felt isolated, disconnected from loved ones, and unmotivated. By actively engaging in group discussions, helping delegate tasks, and encouraging regular check-ins, I was able to maintain momentum within the team. This ensured our projects continued to progress despite these challenges.
When team members were unable to attend meetings or follow through on their workload, I stepped in and took on their tasks, while still incorporating any ideas they were able to provide. This approach meant that our finished tasks reflected the contribution of the whole group and upheld a sense of shared ownership. Creating this environment of collaboration and cohesion not only strengthened our collective outcomes but also helped us remain connected and motivated as a team.
From these experiences, I learned the value of leading with purpose, adaptability, and inclusiveness. I discovered that when everyone has the chance to contribute, feels heard, and is supported by a positive team culture, productivity and morale improve greatly. By channelling my enthusiasm into lifting the team’s spirits and ensuring shared responsibility, I realised how effective leadership lies in both motivating others and fostering an environment where collective success can be achieved.
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