Youth Council delivers great results for the environment

16 December 2019

Motivated students from seven high schools represent Tweed youth

The 2019 Youth Council recently wrapped up their last meeting for the year.

The Youth Council is an advisory committee established to respond to issues relevant to young people aged 12 to 24 years and provide an opportunity for Council to develop better relations with Tweed’s young people.

This year, the Youth Council was comprised of 17 motivated students from seven high schools across the Tweed.

Youth Council member, Jazmine Cooke from Tweed River High School made some great on some fantastic environmental initiatives, including a successful nomination to YMCA NSW Youth Parliament where she worked on a bill to ban single use plastics that went on to be adopted.

She also developed an environmental project in partnership with Tweed Heads South Primary School, to educate children on their environmental impact, to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions.

To further student learning, Jazmine spoke at the school assembly about climate change, pitching the idea to start a student ‘Green Team’.

“It was exciting to see students were keen to join, almost everyone in the room raised their hand,” Ms Cooke said.

Jazmine also spoke at the 2019 World Environment Day alongside Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne about environmental initiatives.

It’s been a busy and successful year for Jazmine, who also shared the Academic and Leadership Award at the BASE Youth Leadership Awards with Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School’s Chloe Green.

At the final meeting for the year, each young person was asked to express their Youth Council highlight and sentiments included, “I liked learning how Council works” and “I enjoyed learning from peers interested in similar issues”.

Council’s Director Sustainable Communities and Environment Tracey Stinson and Senior Program Leader – Waterways, Tom Alletson presented the draft Climate Change policy to Youth Council members recently and the young people have been encouraged to provide feedback on the policy.

“The young people have a genuine concern for their community, the environment and the impacts of climate change and appreciated learning about Council’s role in this and its future plans,” Ms Stinson said.

To find out more about Youth Council and young people in the Tweed visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/YoungPeople