TWO Coffs Coast representatives are amongst eighteen young leaders from across regional NSW selected for this year’s NSW Government Regional Youth Taskforce, which has the task of delivering positive outcomes for young people in rural and regional communities.

The NSW Minister for Regional Youth, Ben Franklin, congratulated the new members of the third Taskforce, who will provide policy and operational advice to the NSW Government to advance the needs of their peers in regional areas.

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Mr Franklin said, “These excellent young leaders will play a valuable role in improving economic outcomes and quality of life of regional youth.”

Mikal Tesfamariam and Luke Austin were selected from more than 130 applicants, and with the other young people from each of the State’s nine regions, will meet throughout the year to focus on the NSW Regional Youth framework pillars: work ready, wellbeing, connectivity and community.

Mikal is an academic captain at Bishop Druitt College and, through her school’s human rights group, is involved in a local initiative called ‘All one under the sun’.

She said that as one of the youth leaders of the campaign she is fighting discrimination through arts and music with a focus on music.

Mikal said that the campaign will be launched with a documentary at the Jetty Theatre in April.

She said, “I feel incredibly honoured to represent the young people of Coffs Harbour.

“We need to make a tangible difference for young people in our communities,” she continued.

Amongst other activities, Luke Austin has worked with Ocean Watch Australia on oyster cultivation and sustainability with communities from Stradbroke Island down to the South Coast.

He is also a student Ambassador at Southern Cross university.

Part of his Ambassador role is to take part in the Regional Universities Roadshow, spending a month travelling with ambassadors from three other universities to visit high schools and talk to students.

Luke said that the application process involved him identifying what are the issues facing young people in NSW, how he would address those issues and what has been his contribution to the community.

He said, “I am really passionate about encouraging young people to stay in their regional areas and realise the opportunities that exist there.

“We want to support them to stay and develop their skills.”

Luke said that one of the skills he can bring to the Taskforce is to advise about how to deliver messages to young people effectively.

He said, “I’d also like to see some sort of partnerships in regions so that high school students can gain work experience in a number of areas so they become interested in and familiar with the careers and industries around them.”

Luke said that he is also interested in developing transport connectivity in regional areas, which tend to be reliant on cars, and ensuring that regional youth are supported by any changes.

Both Luke and Mikal noted that previous taskforces have made positive contributions to NSW government policies.

Mr Franklin said that the first meeting will be held in Dubbo next month and will centre around what it means to be ‘work ready’ and how regional youth can be better engaged to prepare them for different career paths and jobs of the future.

He said, “In the role, our eighteen new members will hone their skills in driving policy change, advocate for real outcomes for young people, and provide a voice for regional youth in the NSW Government.”

Mr Franklin thanked members of the outgoing 2021 Regional Youth Taskforce for their work during their time in the role and said that their input had guided major NSW Government policy decisions.

He said, “Some of the 2021 Taskforce’s achievements include initiating a Regional School Alumni Events Program, running an online event to give advice to young people interested in running for council, and creating positive social media videos to support other young people through the COVID-19 pandemic, and I thank its members for their fantastic work.

“I congratulate the members of the new 2022 Taskforce and look forward to working with them.”

By Andrew VIVIAN