Council adopts Youth Action Plan 2023-2024

The Greater Bendigo City Council has approved a new Youth Action Plan 2023/2024 at Monday’s Council meeting.

The Youth Action Plan 2023/2024 features a range of actions grouped into five broad categories to support Greater Bendigo’s young people to be: healthy and well; safe and secure; able to participate; connected to culture and community and able have a liveable future.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the Youth Action Plan 2023-2024 provides a clear and achievable plan that guides the City’s commitment to young people and is directly aligned to the City of Greater Bendigo’s Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025 (Healthy Greater Bendigo).

“The plan commits the City to support inclusion and participation for young people by promoting the voices of young people, diversity, and improving opportunities for rural and disadvantaged young people in order to develop young leaders and empower them to make a difference in their community,” Cr Metcalf said.

“It commits the City to continuing successful programs like the Youth Council, YO Events, YO Media, Ambedo Youth Magazine, skills development, training, and events and activities that are safe and welcoming. It also commits the City to developing a Youth Awards program and supporting advocacy activities that improve young people's sense of public safety.”

The Youth Action Plan 2023-2024 was overseen and co-designed by the Greater Bendigo Youth Council who provided feedback on all aspects of the project.

Greater Bendigo Youth Mayor Ryan Peterson said the Youth Councillors are grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to oversee the development of the Youth Action Plan and are now looking forward to overseeing its implementation.

“The City of Greater Bendigo engages with young people, respects our opinions and values our experiences and this has resulted in Greater Bendigo’s young people being involved in every stage of developing this Youth Action Plan,” Mr Peterson said.
“The plan commits the City to enabling young people to be inspired, heard and valued, so they can be leaders in the community.

“We believe that it is vital that young people actively participate in creating their own future and we think the Youth Action Plan will provide the opportunities to do that.

“Whilst it is often said that young people are the leaders of tomorrow, we believe young people are already participating and leading today.”