Give a shoutout to a young person in the Celebrating YOUth Awards

Recipients from the 2022 Yarra Ranges YOUth Awards. Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG.

Yarra Ranges Council is encouraging community members to take notice of young people doing great things for our community, and nominate them for the Celebrating YOUth Awards.

The YOUth Awards, held in December, is a youth-led event to celebrate the contributions and achievements of young people, aged 12-25, who live, work or study in the region.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said that Council wanted to hear about young people improving their communities, helping others or creating art.

“We have a really fantastic cohort of young people in the Yarra Ranges who volunteer their time and put their skills to use to benefit everyone – it’s one of the many brilliant things about our region,” he said.

“But it’s not often that we take a moment to celebrate that work, and the way it benefits us all. This is where Celebrating YOUth comes in.

“This awards night will be a chance to say thank you and to give some well-deserved recognition to young people doing great things.

“Now we want to hear from you – if you know young people in your community who jump at a chance to help, who advocate for others or are creating incredible things, let us know.

“If someone came to mind while reading this, then it’s worth nominating them and telling us why you think they’re great.

“It only takes a few minutes to nominate someone for deserved recognition and nominations are open until 22 October.”

Award categories young people can be nominated for are:

Resilience and perseverance

Passionate advocate

Young entrepreneur

School or community improvement

Arts, music and culture.

The award assessment panel will assess the approach of the young person:

How they achieve their goals

The impact and reach of their work

How unique they have been in what they do

Their dedication.

All nominees will be invited to attend the December event.

The YOUth Awards are funded by the State Government’s FReeZA and Engage! program.

To make a nomination, go to www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Community/Youth/Celebrating-YOUth-Awards-Night