The City of Greater Bendigo Youth Council has commenced its second year of a two-year term. With six new, and eleven returning Youth Councillors for 2026.
New Youth Councillors Anya Singh, Ava Parker, Bailey Leach, Grace Wells, Hayden Ferrari and Simone Richter have joined returning Youth Councillors Aidan Sanders, Alyssa Beaton, Amelia Westbrook, Annie Dalton, Bailey Dolan, Ella Filsell, Freiya O’Connor, Hamish Knight, Lucas Thredgold, Mollie Hartje, and Rafferty Brasier.
At the Youth Council Special meeting on the 24th of February 2026, The Youth Council elected their leadership team for 2026. They elected Alyssa Beaton as the Youth Mayor and Ella Filsell and Bailey Dolan as the two Deputy Youth Mayors, while also electing three working group chairs, Youth Councillor Ava Parker, Annie Dalton and Amelia Westbrook. Congratulations to all the Youth Council leadership team. 🎉
Youth Mayor Alyssa Beaton said “Knowing that my fellow Youth Councillors believe in me enough to appoint me as Youth Mayor fills me with pride and strength beyond what words could express. Beyond shaping our community and its future, the Youth Council shapes its members even more so. The skills we gain from being part of this group are invaluable and allow us to truly influence area.”
The Youth Council represents the views of the young people of Bendigo on a range of City plans and programs that impact them, providing a voice for young people and fulfils a key goal of the ‘Council Plan 2025-2029’ to ensure young people thrive and are empowered to lead.
In the seven years of Youth Council, Youth Councillors have contributed to nearly 60 City plans, strategies, policies and projects; including the Council Plan 2025-2029, the Managed Growth Strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy, the LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Action Plan, the Social Justice Framework, and the Zero Emissions Road map. While they have also co-designed and overseen the development of the City’s Youth Action Plan and have represented young people on several advisory committees including the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration, the Arts and Creative Industries Advisory Committee, the Farming and Agribusiness Reference Committee, and the Heritage Advisory Committee.
The Youth Council also represent young people at civic events and activities such as the National Volunteer Week Morning Tea, the IDAHOBIT Flag raising ceremony, and at the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence events.
We look forward to seeing what our amazing group of Youth Councillors do in 2026!