What does Youth Engagement entail and what can we learn from listening to young people in the community?

In this episode, we discuss Southern Downs Regional Council’s innovative approach to engaging with their younger community members. This episode features Michael Bell, the Manager of Community and Cultural Services, , who was the driver of establishing a youth council and Liam Gow, a previous member of the Youth Council in 2019 and a student at Stanthorpe High School. The podcast discusses how the Youth Council was established, how it functions and the impact it has had on the young people with whom the Youth Council engages.

About our guest speakers

Michael Bell is the Manager Community and Cultural Services at Southern Downs Regional Council.  Michael is an experienced manager in local government and has been at SDRC for 9 years.  In his role he is responsible for Community Development, Disaster Management and Libraries. He first became interested in the idea of a youth council 2018 and has taken a leading role in promoting the idea of a youth council at SDRC.

Liam Gow is a 16-year-old student who is currently enrolled in Stanthorpe State High School. He is interested in pursuing a career in mechatronics (engineering) after completing his high school education. He was a member of the Southern Downs Youth Council in 2019 and is now an ex youth council member. On the youth council he is responsible for representing Stanthorpe State High School and voicing his and his peer’s opinions on what the council could do to better life in the Southern Downs.