The City of Greater Bendigo Youth Council has commenced a two-year term with ten new and eight returning Youth Councillors for 2025-2026.
New Youth Councillors Annie Dalton, Ella Filsell, Freiya O’Connor, Heather Bell, Lea Bursac, Leila Bennett, Lucas Thredgold, Mollie Hartje, Rafferty Brasier, and Rose Norton – have joined returning Youth Councillors Aidan Sanders, Alyssa Beaton, Amelia Westbrook, Bailey Dolan, Hamish Knight, Levity Camilleri, Moon Vincent, and Rohan Tyler.
At the Youth Council Special Meeting on Tuesday 18 February 2025, the Youth Council elected their leadership team for 2025. They elected Levity Camilleri as the Youth Mayor and Alyssa Beaton and Bailey Dolan as the two Deputy Youth Mayors. Youth Council also elected three working group chairs, Youth Councillors Mollie Hartje, Rose Norton, and Lucas Thredgold. Congratulations to all the Youth Council leadership team.
The Special Meeting of Youth Council was also attended by City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf, Councillors, CEO Andrew Cooney, City staff, and Youth Councillors’ family and friends.
Youth Mayor Levity Camilleri said “I am honoured to be working with such a driven and passionate group of young people. I have gained so much more from Youth Council than I've contributed, and I look forward to the opportunity to give back to this community. I want to thank all the past and current Youth Councillors for their support through my leadership journey.”
The Youth Council is starting its seventh year. The first six years of the Youth Council were very successful with Youth Councillors providing input into over 50 City plans, strategies, policies, and projects, including the Council Plan 2021-2025, the Zero Emissions Roadmap, the Biodiversity Strategy, the LGBTIQA+ Action Plan, the Fair Access Action Plan, the E-scooter trial, and the Managed Growth Strategy. Youth Councillors also co-designed and oversaw the development of the City’s Youth Action Plan.
In 2025, the Youth Council will provide input into the City’s youth programs and continue to provide a youth perspective on City plans and strategies, including the Council Plan 2025/2029 and the new Health and Wellbeing Plan. Youth Councillors are looking forward to another exciting and busy year!
