Whittlesea Youth Advisory Committee

Youth Advisory Committee 2022/2023

The application period for City of Whittlesea’s Youth Advisory Committee saw applications submitted from over 30 incredibly skilled and capable young people from across the municipality. Of these 30 applicants, interviews were conducted with 19 young people over two weeks and after carefully reviewing the large number of candidates, 12 applicants were offered a position on the 2022/23 Youth Advisory Committee. The appointed members of the Youth Advisory Committee reflect the incredibly diverse community that makes up the City of Whittlesea with members ranging in age from 12-22 and representing youth from every corner of the municipality.

+ Meeting Schedule

Monday 5 September 2022

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 3 October 2022

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 7 November 2022

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 5 December 2022

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

January - BREAK

Monday 6 February 2023

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 6 March 2023

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 3 April 2023

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 1 May 2023

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Monday 5 June 2023

06:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Frequently Asked Questions about the YAC

+ What is the youth advisory committee?

The Whittlesea Youth Advisory Committee is a group of up to 15 young people aged between 12 – 25 years whose purpose is to work together with Council to ensure local young people’s needs are met and that young people have a voice in the decision making processes within Council.

The key roles of the Youth Advisory Committee are:

Offer advice and advocate to Council on current issues and emerging trends for young people and implications these might have for how young people connect with services across the City of Whittlesea.
Provide feedback and input to Council on relevant policies, strategies and key developments as determined by the committee members – some of these discussion areas may not be within the direct control of Council, however the City of Whittlesea will seek to support the committee’s broader advocacy goals.
Consult and connect with local young people for the purpose of providing an avenue for young people to have a way to connect and consult with Council.

+ Which suburbs make up the Whittlesea local government area?

The Whittlesea Local Government extends from Bundoora all the way to Beveridge. The municipality is sectioned into three areas known as Wards. These are:

North Ward: Includes the suburbs of Whittlesea, Beveridge, Humevale, Eden Park, Donnybrook, Woodstock, Yan Yean, Mernda, Doreen, part of South Morang and Kinglake West
South West: Wollert, Epping, Lalor, Thomastown
South East: Mill Park,

+ I have a disability, what supports will be provided to enable me to participate in the YAC?

The City of Whittlesea encourages the involvement of young people with disabilities and is keen to provide supports to address any participation barriers.

The YAC Terms of Reference outline that YAC members who require a support person to enable participation, are able to register support people for attendance at meetings.

The City of Whittlesea is able to provide AUSLAN interpreters at YAC meetings for YAC members whose primary language is AUSLAN.

The Council chambers has accessible services and technology such as closed hearing loop.

The Youth Services team are available to discuss an individual access plan to address individual access requirements and supports, for more information, contact the Youth Services Team on 9404 8800 or email: baseline@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

+ Will there be an orientation and planning session before the first YAC meeting?

Yes. YAC members will be required to be available for 2 days of orientation and planning in the week beginning Monday 5^th July 2021.

The orientation and planning program will include an introduction to committee processes and the YAC Terms of Reference (the Terms of Reference is a document that outlines how the YAC works and what it can and can’t do) as well as an introduction to the Whittlesea area, the Whittlesea Council and how Council works.

+ How often will the YAC meet?

The YAC will meet for formal meetings once a month between July 2021 – June 2022. Meetings will be held on the third Monday of the month from 6pm – 7:30pm in the Council Chambers which are located in the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre, 25 Ferres Boulevard South Morang.

All YAC members will be required to make themselves available to attend an Orientation and Planning week

Outside of formal meetings, YAC members can participate in one or more specialist portfolio working groups. The portfolio working groups will meet once a month to discuss specialist topics and work on identifying, developing and delivering a community project throughout the year.

YAC members may also be provided with the opportunity to engage in other community forums and events as relevant to YAC members’ interests.

YAC Meeting schedule:

Meeting Month	Meeting Date	Meeting Time
July	19/07/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
August	16/08/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
September	20/09/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
October	18/10/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
November	15/11/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
December	20/12/2021	6:00pm – 7:30pm
January	17/01/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm
February	21/02/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm
March	21/03/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm
April	18/04/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm
May	16/05/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm
June	20/06/2022	6:00pm – 7:30pm

+ What if I can't attend a full YAC or a Portfolio Group meeting?

We understand that sometimes some YAC members won’t be able to attend a meeting. We request that you aim to attend all meetings, however, if something unexpected happens, or during school/uni exam times, if you need to miss a meeting, that is okay. We ask YAC members to notify the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson through the Youth Services team secretarial support.

We do ask YAC members to commit to 80% attendance – if something unforeseeable occurs, YAC members are able to ask to take a period of absence.

If YAC members miss two consecutive full YAC meetings without any communication, the Youth Services team will make contact to see what support they can offer to address any barriers to attendance.

+ Do my parents/guardians have to give consent for me to participate?

If you are aged under 18 years of age we do require parent/guardian consent for you to participate in the YAC. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the Youth Services team on 9404 8800 or email: baseline@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

We welcome the participation of young people who are living in out-of-home care.

+ I'm over 18 years of age, do I need to supply a Working with Children's Check?

Yes, all YAC members who are 18 years or over have to provide a current Working With Children’s Check (WWCC) – volunteer minimum. Information about how to apply for a WWCC can be found here: Home | Working with Children

+ What issues will the YAC be working on?

To some extent this will be up to the YAC and the young people they consult with. YAC members will have the scope to identify up to 3 key areas of importance to focus on in portfolio working groups. Each portfolio group will have an annual budget to allow them to undertake a community project.

The YAC will also be asked to provide advice to Council on key policies, strategies and initiatives that will impact local young people. Youth Services staff will provide support to ensure YAC members have access to up to date and relevant information to ensure YAC members are able to make recommendations to Council that are purposeful and achievable.

+ How will Council act on advice from the YAC?

This will depend on what the advice relates to and whether any recommendations are able to be acted on by Council. Some recommendations from the YAC may require Council to advocate to other bodies and organisations on behalf of local young people.

Council is keen to hear from and engage with young people and to genuinely address their concerns. If Council is not able to directly address issues raised by young people, Council will seek to advocate to other areas of government on behalf of young people to ensure their voice is represented.