Nominations
The 2018 nominations for the Youth Action Board of Governance are now closed. Before you vote for your future Board, please review their nominations below.
Chairperson and Treasurer
As only one nomination was received for the Chairperson and the Treasurer, we are very pleased to welcome back both Tamika Worrell and Chris Brereton respectively to the Board.
Nominees for election
Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Josh Andrews
Member type: Young person
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 1 year
Region: Sydney
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
I’m passionate about youth unemployment, with New South Wales’s youth unemployment rate trending above 10%. Outside Sydney, there’s a youth unemployment crisis, with regional areas topping 20%. Young people in New South Wales are also chronically underemployed, with almost a quarter wanting to work more than they are. I want to be a part of a Youth Action that actively pressures all levels of Government in NSW to eliminate youth unemployment and underemployment.
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
I’m a professional union campaigner and organiser in the education sector. My professional campaign work has helped me understand what is needed to run campaigns that advance the interests of young people and youth workers, and I’m ready to help build a Youth Action that actively engages young people and youth workers in its campaigns.
As a volunteer in the NSW Scout Association, I regularly work with young people in their extracurricular development, and this experience gives me valuable insight into the desperate need for support that’s shared amongst young people, youth workers, and youth organisations.
Peter Hope
Member type: Organisational (Fairfield City Council)
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 2 years
Region: South Western Sydney
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
l want to continuing my support for Youth Action as the peak body for youth affairs in NSW. I greatly value the support and guidance that Youth Action has given me over my youth work career and being part of the board enables me to give back. As a second-term board member, I'd like to be an integral part in ensuring Youth Action has strong governance and leadership, continues to be a professional, ethical, growing and inspiring organisation that serves the young people and youth sector in NSW.
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
I have been working in the Youth Work sector since 2004, across recreation, health, policy and Local Government (12 years) positions. I have extensive experience running events, facilitating networks and working parties and running youth leadership and development programs. My work in Local Government involves leadership roles within the organisation and the Community - with sector development as a priority. My understanding of Youth Action, youth issues and strategic planning will be beneficial to the board should I be re-elected. I have a strong understanding of the youth sector and the challenges faced by workers and organisations. I have participated in many programs facilitated by Youth Action over the years and I would like to continue supporting the organisation.
Penny Lamaro
Member type: Organisational (Eastern Access Community Health - EACH)
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 3 years
Region: Hunter / New England
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
I would like an ongoing regional perspective to be reflected in the Board. I believe that regional youth and youth services have challenges that sometimes differ from our metro counterparts. So while building on our similarities and strengths, I would like to celebrate our differences too!
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
I have been a youth worker for over 7 years now. I am also the founder of the WAGS The Dog Program. I have lived in regional and remote areas most of my life and for my entire career as a youth worker.
Tilly South
Member type: Individual
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 3 years
Region: Eastern Sydney
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
I am currently serving on the Youth Action board. As an advocate and campaigner for young people and as a board member on the Youth Action board, I understand firsthand the important work Youth Action does amplifying the voice of young people in New South Wales and beyond.
As a member of the board I have been able to bring my skills and experience to advise and oversee the governance of the organisation. This is especially important in a time of significant growth for Youth Action where stability and continuity on the board is important. As the organisation's platform and remit grows, I want to continue to provide strategic advice and sound governance to allow Youth Action to flourish.
I am passionate about giving young people advocacy tools and resources they need to ensure they have bright futures and limitless opportunities. I know Youth Action does a fantastic job working with young people and youth workers across the state to make this a reality for so many. I want to continue to contribute the the great work Youth Action does.
It has been a privilege to serve on the board for the last three years, and it would be a privilege to be re-elected onto the board to continue to drive Youth Action's mission and goals.
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
I am an experienced campaigner, researcher and advocate working on issues that matter to young people. I have brought my strategic thinking, advocacy and organising expertise to the board for the last three years, and I would love the opportunity to continue to contribute to the success of Youth Action.
I am a founding member of Interns Australia, Australia's peak body for people undertaking unpaid internships. I bring my experience building a national peak from the ground-up to Youth Action, including strategies on how to engage young people, politicians, the media and policy makers on the issues that matter to young people.
I have a strong background in policy and research, particularly in policy strategy. As a PhD student (researching young people in unpaid internships) and a political (policy) advisor, I have been able to assist in overseeing Youth Action's navigation of the policy process and strategic direction. I have done extensive research with young people, and I know what makes them tick and my academic knowledge of the area will continue to be an asset to the board. In particular, I have assisted Youth Action with policy issues (in the area of apprenticeship and skills training) and advising on the organisation's intern program.
Additionally, I am from outside the formal youth work sector. As such, I bring a different perspective from others on the board on how to engage and work with young people bringing a diversity of thought to the board.
Rowena Tran
Member type: Young person
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 1 year
Region: South Western Sydney
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
Young people deserve to be supported so they can provide valuable input in the decisions that affect them, allowing them to feel empowered. As a young person myself, I have seen the positive changes that have been brought about through the work of Youth Action. I want to be able to represent the voice of young people and advocate for better outcomes.
I am particularly passionate about empowering young people from culturally and linguistically diverse, and migrant and refugee backgrounds. All young people have a voice, and I believe in building their capacity to speak out and voice their concerns, collaborate with each other and community groups, and take action to address the issues that affect them.
Being part of the Youth Action Board will give me the opportunity to represent young people and contribute to the development of policies and campaigns. I also want to collaborate with other community organisations and stakeholders to address issues that affect young people, especially young people who are experiencing hardship and face barriers that prevent them from accessing services.
In addition, the people I meet through Youth Action will allow me to network with other young people, youth workers, and other organisations to better understand the barriers that young people face when trying to access services in the community. By understanding these barriers, we will be able to collaborate with them and design systems that are more suitable for young people and increase participation and engagement.
Joining the Youth Action Board will not only enable me to represent the voice of young people in NSW, it will also allow me to broaden my understanding of the issues relating to young people, develop networks and collaborate with other people, and develop better ways to address challenges.
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
In my work with the Fairfield Youth and Multicultural Advisory Committees, Australian Red Cross, the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN) NSW, and Cancer Council NSW, I have had extensive experience working with refugee and migrant communities, in rural areas, and with people from socio-economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, my involvement with MYAN NSW in providing input and responding to government policies affecting multicultural young people, and my work with the Australian Red Cross consulting and collaborating with young people from refugee and migrants backgrounds and LGBTI communities have given me valuable insight into the barriers that these communities face.
As Convenor of the Fairfield Youth Advisory Committee and the Fairfield Youth Week Steering Committee, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with other young people, hold community consultations, organise events, lead various projects and initiatives, and work with the Project Manager for Youth in Fairfield City. Through my work in the local community, I have been able to better understand the challenges that young people face, and discuss the ways that we can address them. The knowledge and insight I have gained through consultations as well as my own experience as a young person from a migrant family living in South West Sydney will allow me to provide valuable input in the initiatives, projects, consultations and meetings organised by Youth Action.
Gabriel Van Duinen
Member type: Young person
Nominated position: Ordinary member
Term: 3 years
Region: Northern Sydney
Why do you want to be on the Youth Action Board?
I want to join the Youth Action board because I’m passionate about young people's health and the transition from school to further education or work for people with a disability.
The issues affecting young people's health and wellbeing are diverse but mental illness stands out for its invisibility and significant cascading social effects. Nor is experiencing a mental health issue uncommon with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reporting that 26% of people aged between 16-24 have a high prevalence mental health disorder. It’s vitally important that work is done to address the unique health challenges that young people face and I believe Youth Action has an important role to play in facilitating a voice for these concerns to be heard by other stakeholders.
The transition from school is an exciting but difficult time for young people. However, for people with a disability or who have been receiving additional support at school it can be a difficult and daunting period. While there have been some improvements, there are still gaps in accessibility and service delivery that lead to some young people becoming “lost” in the system. There are also problems associated with accessing the NDIS with delays, a lack of recognition for psychosocial disability and a minefield of bureaucracy all too common experiences. Youth Action has a responsibility to highlight the challenges and experiences, of young people and I want to contribute to this effort by joining the Board.
Ultimately, Youth Action embodies every single young person’s voice and my belief in the importance of that voice drives my application to be on the Board.
What skills and experiences would you bring to the Youth Action Board?
I am currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in International Business at Macquarie University, I have been a Unit Representative and active in the Macquarie University Division of St John Ambulance (NSW) as part of my study. Prior to university I completed a Diploma of Work Health and Safety at the Polytechnic of Western Australia (now TAFE WA South Metropolitan) and a Cert III in Health Administration through TAFE NSW OTEN. The Diploma in particular, gives me an insight into the implications of policy which I can bring to the Board. I am a strong believer in youth civic participation and am a Youth Councillor on the Ryde Youth Council Advisory Committee where I have been involved in advocacy, communication and event planning. I have also recently been appointed to the Ryde Social Inclusion Advisory Committee after a period of observation as a result of my demonstrated interest in disability and inclusion. Finally, I bring a passion for making change and a strong sense of social justice which drive me to want to improve life for every young person in NSW.