Departing president holds fears for youth council

Departing Capel Youth Advisory Council president Sebastian Schiano is concerned for the future of the group as he steps down after four years in the role.

Mr Schiano said he feared consultation between the Capel Shire Council and the YAC would cease next year.

“We have always played a big part in having input to plan activities with shire staff and next year I am concerned this will not happen,” he said.

“The summer period is a time of transition when we lose some of our members as they go off to uni or work, so we need to use the summer school holiday period to recruit more members for the coming year.

“I respect there is going to be structural change but a certain amount needs to be done to prevent that change having a huge effect.”

Capel shire community services executive manager Michelle Plume said the council hoped the YAC would flourish next year.

“If the young people want it then we will be doing our utmost to encourage it,” she said.

“We have already been consulting with local schools to recruit for the YAC and will put on a part-time youth officer next year to plan activities for young people.

“We are not going to let it drop, the YAC provides a voice for all young people within the shire to have a voice to get involved in community activities.”

She said the council was organising the Inzone school holiday activities in January like they did every school holidays and the YAC had input into these activities.

She said they had been hosting visioning workshops throughout the shire to gain an understanding of residents’ aspirations for its youth.

Youth Advisory Council member Beth Robbins has been with the YAC for two years and said she had gained a lot more confidence from taking part and planning the activities.

“I have been able to take some of the skills I have learnt while being involved with YAC into other areas of my life,” she said.

In February next year the Capel Shire Council will host a workshop to discuss the opportunities the YAC provides young people.