National Youth Roundtable 2002 Members
The 50 young Australians chosen as members of the fourth National Youth Roundtable were announced today by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony.
“The members of Roundtable 2002 are a remarkable group of young people. They reflect the diversity of experiences and backgrounds found in the Australian community.
“There was strong interest from young people in every state and territory. Those selected for the Roundtable will bring very wide-ranging knowledge and experiences to the table.
“Roundtable participants will come from all over Australia, such as Bronte in Sydney and the Cocos Islands off Western Australia to represent to Government the issues that concern them.
“They include high school students and those in tertiary study of medicine, marine biology, law, fine arts, communications and social sciences. There is also an apprentice carpenter, a policy officer in industrial relations, a youth worker in drama and dance and a motivational speaker.
“Roundtable members will begin orientation workshops over the next two weeks and will come together for the first of two Roundtable meetings in Canberra on 18 March 2002.
“The National Youth Roundtable was established by the Coalition Government in 1999 to give Australians aged from 15 to 24 the forum to put their views to Government,” Mr Anthony said.
| Name | Biographies |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory | |
| David Hevey Nhulunbuy |
David is a 16 year old student at Casuarina Senior College. He is active in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, Scouts, Cadets and the school band and has received a number of awards including Young Citizen of the Year for Nhulunbuy in 2000. In 2001, David represented the Northern Territory in the National Youth Parliament. |
| Iyngaran Selvaratnam Malak |
Iyngaran is 17 and studying Medicine at James Cook University in Townsville. He has represented the Northern Territory at the National Youth Science Forum, the Professor Harry Messel International Science School and the National School’s Constitutional Convention and Debating Championships. He was the President of the Leo Club of Nightcliff and is a keen soccer player having represented the Darwin region in soccer. He is also heavily involved in cultural and youth group activities with the Hindu and the Tamil Societies in the Northern Territory and was chosen as the Northern Territory youth delegate for the National Hindu Conference in 2001. He was also a Kids Helpline trained Peer Helper and Student Representative Council member at his school, Casuarina Senior College. |
| Selena Uibo Sanderson |
Selena is a 17 year old Indigenous student from Darwin. She has been a member of the Northern Territory Youth Parliament and the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspiration Program. |
| Australian Capital Territory | |
| Rohan Connor Yarralumla |
Rohan is a 18 year old student studying Arts/Law at the Australian National University. He has been involved with the United Nations as a youth policy member and as an Australian youth ambassador in the Netherlands. He has been a youth envoy for the Centenary of Federation and acted as a youth advisor to Jacqui Burke MLA. Rohan has participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and is an active debater. |
| Julia Fetherston Deakin |
Fifteen year old Julia is a student at Canberra Girls Grammar. She is involved with Amnesty International, Rostrum, Student Representative Council, Duke of Edinburgh and inter-school Christian fellowship. Julia is an active debater. |
| Alastair Lawrie Watson |
Twenty three year old Alastair grew up on a cattle property station in central Queensland and currently attends the Australian National University. He is a member of the National Union of Queer Students and is an AIDS Action Council Volunteer. |
| Tasmania | |
| Andrew Gauden East Launceston |
Andrew is 17 years old and currently attending St Patricks College where he is a member of the Student Representative Council. Andrew has experienced ways in which cultural diversity can enhance the community. Much of his community involvement centres on his work with people with disabilities and those who are socially disadvantaged. |
| Pria Holmes Blackmans Bay |
Sixteen year old Pria studies at Hobart College where she is active in a number of school activities and associations. In 2000 and 2001, she was involved in education consultation as a member of the Department of Education curriculum consultation committee. |
| Christopher Tanti Beaconsfield |
Twenty year old Christopher, moved to Tasmania to study marine biology at the Australian Maritime College. He has been involved in fundraising and sporting activities, as well as youth forums and was managing director of the Young Achievement Australia Small Business Management Team. In 1998 he was named Young Victor Harbour Citizen of the Year. |
| Queensland | |
| Waverley Canendo Yarrabah |
Nineteen year old Waverley is currently working part-time at the Yarrabah Aboriginal Council. He has been involved in a number of organisations and programs including the National Youth Reconciliation Convention, the Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council and the Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspirations Program and is attempting to set up a youth advisory group for the local council. |
| Darren Chant Kalbar |
Seventeen year old Darren is an apprentice carpenter. In 2001, he was a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year awards and worked as a team leader on the National Youth at the Centre which brought young people from around Australia to Boonah to build a cottage in two days. As a member of the Boonah Youth Centre he has attended forums such as the Forum for Apprentices and the Rural Leader’s Forum. In 2002, he was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year Award in the Boonah Shire in recognition of his achievements and community involvement over several years and was nominated for the Q-build Apprentice of the Year award. He coaches the under 10 local soccer team and umpired at the recent Queensland state vigoro titles. |
| Penny Dollin Newmarket |
Penny, 22, works full-time as a Policy Officer for the Queensland Department of Industrial Relations. She has a Bachelor of Business in Human Resources Management with Distinction and a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction. She is a member of the Department of Employment and Training Youth Network and the QLD Special Interest Group Working Party for the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI). Penny has also been a member of AHRI for nearly five years. |
| Brett Leach St George |
Twenty two year old Brett works part-time at the St George Youth and Community Association – a Rural Youth Information Service Provider. He attended the Queensland Job Placement, Employment and Training State Conference as a guest speaker and the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Planning Forum. He is a member of the Balonne Indigenous Youth Progress Group and the Balonne Community Housing Project. Brett works part time for the Department of Family Services as a youth worker. |
| Helena Rose Robertson |
Helena, 24, is a final student in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Queensland. She is involved in a number of disability and university organisations. She is very aware of the many difficulties surrounding students with disabilities and has endeavoured through her involvement in various groups to channel a path to make it easier for students to access appropriate programs. Helena’s efforts were recognised when she won the ‘Shine On the Abilities of those with Disabilities’ Award’ from Rotary International in 1999. Helena is acutely aware of education and employment issues for young people, and aims to make a significant contribution to the Roundtable on these issues. |
| Chelsea Watego Runcorn |
Twenty three year old Chelsea recently graduated with Honours from the University of Queensland and is employed full-time as an associate lecturer in Indigenous Health at the University of Queensland. She has initiated a number of projects and programs in Dalby and is on a number of committees. Chelsea was recently married. |
| Western Australia | |
| Linden Brownley Morley |
Sixteen year old Linden is a student at Swan Christian College. He has been a member of the Constitutional Centre of Western Australia, the Future Leaders Conference and the Australian YMCA Centenary of Federation Youth Parliament. Linden recently led a team of students to Wongutha Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School to promote a friendship exchange between students with different cultural backgrounds. |
| Katherine Kilgariff Scarborough |
Katherine, 20, is a youth worker employed through the Hills Community Support Group and is in her second year of a Social Science (Youth Work) degree. Through various community organisations she has volunteered her time to gain experience in the youth work field. These include the North Metropolitan Community Drug Service team, the Stand by Me Youth Service and the Eastern Perth Public and Community Health Unit. She is also involved in the community as a member of the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia. |
| Patricia Le Morley |
Fifteen year old Patricia studies at Morley Senior High and is involved in the Vietnamese Evangelical Church. In 2001 she was a participant in the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program and was nominated for the Western Australian Youth Minister’s Positive Image Award. Patricia won the State award for the National History Challenge and was runner-up in the State Simpson Prize. |
| Mohammed Isa Minkom Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Mohammed is 23 years old and works full-time as a project officer for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council. He is the Home Island Youth Group Co-ordinator and is involved with the Cocos Cultural Activities Club, Cocos Fisheries Committee and also a member of the Fire and Emergency Services of Australia. Mohammed has experienced a range of different cultures through his overseas travel and rural background. |
| Tegan Ottey Capel |
Sixteen year old Tegan was a founding member of the Shire of Capel Youth Advisory Council and represented this council in state and regional conferences addressing issues affecting young people. Tegan was awarded the Shire of Capel Youth of the Year award in 2000. |
| South Australia | |
| Heidi Bartram Kangaroo Island |
Nineteen year old Heidi is a third year marine biology student at Flinders University where she also coaches various sporting teams. In 2000 she won the University Hall Sports Women of the Year Award and was a youth representative on the Centenary of Federation Youth Advisory Committee. |
| Jodie Corfield Hawthorn |
Jodie, 21, has a three year old son. She helped with the formation of the Willunga Youth Forum and is active within this Forum. Jodie is involved with a young parent group, Tour Down Under and the facilitation of regular youth events. |
| Rebecca Ebert Truro |
Nineteen year old Rebecca is studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of South Australia. While she was at school, she initiated and co-ordinated a rural youth health program in the Barossa Valley, which has been adopted by a number of schools. Rebecca works at her local nursing home and is actively involved in youth affairs through local and state organisations. She won the Young South Australian Citizen of the Year award in 2001. |
| Lauren Smeaton Elizabeth Grove |
Twenty two year old Lauren is a youth worker who specialises in drama and dance. She has been an integral player in the establishment of several youth initiatives in her local area. She participated in the South Australian Youth Parliament in 2000 and 2001 and performed at the Paralympics. |
| Michelle Wigg Seaton |
Eighteen old Michelle has recently completed year 12 at Siena College, Adelaide where she received the St Catherine of Siena School Community Service Award for 2001. She is currently undertaking her first year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Adelaide. Michelle attended National Youth Congress 2000 and is involved in many youth organisations including City of Charles Sturt Youth Advisory Group and the Youth Participation and Action Group of YAC SA. Michelle is a dedicated member of the St Vincent de Paul Society, acting as president of the “Out & About” youth conference and has also worked with other social justice organisations such as World Vision, Caritas and UNICEF. Michelle’s other volunteer interests include environmental, youth arts and mental health, promoting ReachOut! Initiative as a youth ambassador. |
| New South Wales | |
| Jonathon Jones Bottrell Bronte |
Jonathon, 23, is a third year community management student at the University of Technology in Sydney and in his honour year for fine arts at the University of NSW. He is an Indigenous artist and works as an independent curator. Since 1996 he has worked on a number of community and arts projects. |
| Robert Day Kirrawee |
Twenty year old Robert has just completed his second year of a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) at the University of Technology in Sydney. He is involved in social justice issues, particularly in relation to reconciliation and refugees. In 1999 Robert received a commendation for his service to the community from the Order of Australia Association. He has been involved with Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and in 2000, he won a Young Citizen of the Year award from Sutherland Shire Council. |
| Viet Duong Hurlstone Park |
Twenty two year old Viet is in her fifth year of a Commerce/Law degree at Macquarie University. She is involved in multiculturalism and has been a leader in multicultural conferences, written a number of articles on these issues that have been published and fundraises for Amnesty International, Legacy and World Vision. In 2000, Viet achieved a second prize in a writing competition organised by STS Radio. |
| Reuben Humphries Quaama |
Twenty four year old Reuben has been involved with a number of community services in his area including the Volunteer Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, the Bega Area Health Council, the Bega Valley Shire Council Social Plan Development Focus Group and the Dry River Land Care Group. |
| Simon Kalinowski Meerschaum Vale |
Simon, 23, is self employed and has been a motivational speaker on a number of occasions. He has completed a Bachelor of Business and has been involved in youth work at his local church. |
| Jordan Kerr Lane Cove |
Jordan, 20, attends Charles Sturt University in Bathurst where he is involved in a number of forums including the Student Council and the Queer Collective. He is also actively involved in his community through the Willoughby Council Youth Forum and as the President of the Mitchell Buddhist Group. In 2001 he helped establish a reading room for children at Mobray Primary School. |
| David Khoury Marrickville |
Eighteen year old David is in his final year at Casimir Catholic College at Marrickville. He is a member of the Marrickville Youth Council and a youth representative on Marrickville Council’s sister cities committee. David holds the school’s tennis competition title at the Marrickville Tennis Club which is the first time Casimir has won this competition. |
| Andrew Masanto Five Dock |
Andrew, 19, is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce/Law degree at Sydney University. He has worked as a night patrol co-ordinator with the St Vincent de Paul Society, Roselle Group and voluntarily tutors disadvantaged high school students. In 2001, he won the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Award for leadership and community work. |
| Karolina Mazurkiewicz Sadlier |
Karolina, 15, has just completed Year 10 at Freeman Catholic College at Bonnyrigg Heights. Karolina is involved with the City of Liverpool’s Youth Council and is a member of the Liverpool youth media team where she recently covered the YAPA conference. |
| Amie Milligan Cundletown |
Sixteen year old Amie is currently studying at Taree High School where she is a member of the Student Representative Council. Amie was selected as the representative from the Taree District for the NSW Student Representative Council Conference 2001. A keen debater she has won a number of awards for public speaking. |
| Thao Nguyen Bankstown |
Thao, 21, is currently studying at the University of Sydney and works closely with Open Family in Cabramatta. Thao is also on the youth sub-committee of the Vietnamese Community of Australia (NSW) and is President of the Vietnamese Students Association. |
| Brittany Noble South Grafton |
Nineteen year old Brittany has a young son who is a toddler. She has been involved in the community for many years with the Clarence Pastoral and Agricultural Society. Brittany has been a tutor for disabled youth and is currently employed with the Maclean Community Health Centre as an administrative officer. |
| Jemma Northam Ulmarra |
Jemma, 16, has just completed Year 10 at South Grafton High School. She is a scholar, musician, vocalist and sportsperson. She has been a member of the school SRC for four years and acts as a leader at Christian camps. Jemma is a debater and has represented the North Coast of NSW in public speaking. |
| Adrian Pattra Lane Cove |
Twenty two year old Adrian is a self employed lecturer on life changing skills for high school students. He established his own company, Little Leaps of Logic, in 1998 and has lectured to over 4,000 students from over 50 high schools. Adrian is currently studying to be an Accredited Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner. Adrian referees and trains others to referee soccer. His service to the community has been recognized by an Order of Australia Commendation. |
| Ana Kosi Griffith |
Twenty two year old Ana has a Bachelor of Arts (Social Science) and works as a caseworker with the Department of Community Services. Ana is a member of the Griffith Multicultural Community Council. |
| Victoria | |
| Helena Bates Ringwood |
Helena, 16, attends Maroondah Secondary College where she has been involved in peer support programs and as a camp leader. She is a committee member of the Youth Centre Drop In Programme and participated in the Maroondah City Council Young Leaders’ Programme in 2000. Helena was also a youth representative on the State Government Drug Policy Expert Committee in 2000. |
| Frank Bonnici Westgarth |
Frank 24, works part-time as a computer programmer for Coles Myer and is a volunteer worker with various organisations such as the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre and St Vincent’s Youth & Homeless Community Programs. He participates in many activities such as the Monthly Good Grief – Outreach and is a peer facilitator in a Youth Project Team of the Victorian AIDS Council. Frank has also contributed to the writings of a Young Person’s Bereavement Book and is a presenter for ‘Going Even Deeper’, a Community Hypothetical. |
| Belinda Chalmers Inverloch |
Belinda is a 24 year old youth development officer with the South Gippsland Shire Council who has completed a Bachelor of Business Travel and Tourism Management degree. Her community involvement includes representing South Gippsland at the National Youth Conference in Perth, coordinating the South Gippsland Youth Festival,, facilitating a youth forum in Youth Week Victoria 2001 and being a volunteer teacher at the Casey Reformed Church Sunday School. |
| Erin Clark Flora Hill |
Erin, 17, a student at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, has been involved in a number of youth forums including, Here For Life Conventions, regional and state constitutional conventions, Youth Parliament and the Young Ambassadors Program. She was a consultant for the B-Central project and is a member of a working party which is aiming to create a Youth Action Council in Bendigo. Erin is a task co-ordinator in the local FreeZA committee and a member of the Kyneton Pony Club. |
| Louise Dunster Benalla |
Louise, 19, is intending to study social work at La Trobe University in 2002. Louise volunteers at the Internet Café, is a committee member of the Benalla Youth Providers Working Group and was recently voted the new chairperson of the Upyouth Foundation. |
| Justin Elks Mitcham |
Twenty year old Justin is doing a Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability Studies) at Deakin University and works as a disability therapist in a private home. He is a tutor/helper with the Homework Club at St Judes Church in Carlton, a member of the Christian Union and a Warrant Officer of the Boys’ Brigade Australia |
| Nathan Goetz Altona Meadows |
Nathan, 18, has just completed year 12 at Saint Paul’s College. The recipient of the Australia Day Scholarship for Bond University, Nathan is now studying Law. He has been actively involved in his school community as a member on the Student Representative Council and in 2000 was awarded Student Marianist Award for community spirit. Nathan has also been involved in a number of community fund-raising activities and was a delegate at the 2001 United Nations Youth Conference. |
| Ervina Lay Spotswood |
Ervina, 20, is commencing a Masters of Business System at Monash University. Ervina is a member of the management committee of the Western Young People’s Independent Network where she works with refugee and migrant youth issues. She has delivered peer education programs to schools about refugee and anti-racism issues and assisted with an after school homework support program for English as a Second Language for young people. |
| Jessica McDonald Hoppers Crossing |
Jessica, 18, has held the roles of class student representative and a year level representative on the Student Representative Council. She has represented both Marian and the local community at State Youth Forums, is involved with the Justice and Democracy Forum, St. Vincent de Paul Chapter, Amnesty International Group and assisted in the development of the school Bullying and Harassment Policy. |
| Lance Tucker St Albans |
Lance is an 18 year old student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology studying a Bachelor of Arts (fashion). He has participated in the “Paving the Way” with the Education Trust Victoria, the National Youth Week Forum and the “East Timor Relief” appeal. Lance has fundraised for Western Family Services and was involved in the Melbourne City Mission Winter Sleepout. He has completed a university enhancement study in Philosophy through Monash University. |