Meet your City of Whittlesea Youth Council

“We are very excited to have the Youth Council on board and look forward to continuing to support and empower our young people,” said City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson.

Angelica Banquil

aged 14 (she/her)

The Youth Council allows me to involve myself in what I am most passionate about – active community involvement – and I believe it allows me to seamlessly utilise and enhance my leadership skills while engaging in hands-on initiatives to create a positive impact.

Angela Rolevska

aged 18 (she/her)

I am a keen participant in the community, and I have a strong passion for leadership and advocacy for my peers. Over the past two years, I have been lucky enough to be part of the process of developing the foundation of the Whittlesea Youth Council and I believe this advocacy body to be of utmost importance to young people.

Bavleen Kaur

aged 14 (she/her)

I want to give back to the community where I live, study, play, and socialise. I want to do whatever I can for the youth, environment and health of the City of Whittlesea. I want to be a voice for young people in the municipality and raise and advocate for topics I am passionate about.

Dean Connelly-Carpenter

aged 15 (he/him)

I am a proud young indigenous Wiradjuri man. I chose to join the Youth Council to attempt to help with issues that arise for youth across multiple communities and hopefully it’s not to just help but to solve these problems and help out other young people.

Emily Tricarico

aged 17 (she/her)

My goal is to create a safe and welcome environment wherever I go, using my personal experience of overcoming various challenges to better understand and encourage those in my community who have also experienced feelings of isolation.

Esha Serai

aged 20 (she/her)

I’m honoured to be joining the first cohort of the Youth Council. I have joined as I’m passionate about contributing to the growth, development and success of youth in our municipality. As a young

woman of colour, I’m also keen to provide a unique voice on issues that concern our diverse community.

Kaynat Virk

aged 19 (she/her)

I have joined the Youth Council to ensure the problems facing the youth are brought to the table and are discussed with the intention to encourage effective change. Issues of climate change and youth wellbeing are of high concern to me.

Masina Salesa

aged 21 (she/her)

I was born and raised in Samoa. I moved to Australia in 2016. I have decided to join the Youth Council because of my passion to help and support the young generation who are in need of help.

Mustafa Khraim

aged 15 (he/him)

I am dedicated to creating a safe space for young people in our community. With a demonstrated passion for youth empowerment in school leadership roles, I aspire to actively contribute to initiatives amplifying young voices and addressing crucial issues.

Sandy Tran

aged 21 (she/her)

I believe that every young person deserves a safe space where they can freely express themselves, engage in meaningful discussions and receive guidance as they pursue their passions without fear of judgement or shame.

Sophie Winter

aged 14 (she/her)

I was part of the Youth Advisory Committee for 2022–2023. I am passionate about politics and the environment. I decided to join the Youth Council because it would allow me to develop my leadership skills, meet new people and help other young people have their voices heard.

Tanya Sharma

aged 12 (she/her)

I have a commitment to addressing the pressing environmental and sustainability challenges that confront young people today. Recognising the pivotal role that the youth play in shaping the future, I am driven by a passion to contribute to creating a more sustainable and resilient community.

Zachary Melvaine

aged 16 (he/him)

I am a passionate individual who loves leadership, collaboration, and community service. I find joy in helping others and striving to become the best version of myself. Being a City of Whittlesea Youth Councillor is the chance to continue building upon the foundations I’ve established during my two-year tenure with the City of Whittlesea Youth Advisory Committee. Visit Youth Council - Whittlesea to find out more about your Youth Council.