Youth Councillor Mollie Hartje

(Pronouns: Any)

Volunteering as a Youth Councillor since 2025, Mollie Hartje is an enthusiastic and active member of their community who is always striving to make a positive impact and give voice to the youth of Greater Bendigo.

A strong believer of making the most of every opportunity that comes their way, volunteering as a Youth Councillor is a way for Hartje to form a stronger connection with and give back to the local community, to give a voice to those who would have otherwise gone unheard, and to hear from voices they wouldn't have otherwise.

Being queer and neurodiverse, one of Hartje’s motivations for joining the Youth Council includes advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Elected for the position of Chair for the Equity and Diversity Working Group in 2025, they are an incredibly passionate and open-minded person who is always willing to lend their time and aid to those in need.

A published author and exhibited artist, Hartje graduated from a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) at the end of 2025 and is currently continuing their studies through a Bachelor of Media and Communication (Honours) at RMIT University. 

Hartje spends a majority of their free time writing and coding, though they also enjoy reading as many Arthurian legend retellings they can get their hands on, playing as many complex choice-driven narrative video games as they are able to, and spending as much time as they can with their friends and community.