Council’s annual Youth Engagement Meeting was today flipped from the traditional formal meeting at the High School to a more inclusive environment where young people were free to have their say, given they will be the most impacted in the future by today’s decisions. The relaxed and positive atmosphere of the session saw the students from Kiama High, Ss Peter & Paul, Kiama PS and Minnamurra PS mingle with each other, councillors and staff while commenting on Council’s open spaces and housing strategies.Youth Services Director, Melissa Andrews, says there was a real leveling of adult and young people. “From what I’m seeing and hearing, I think it went fabulously. Young people are saying that they feel valued which was quite moving to hear,” Ms Andrews says. “The Councillors involved were willing to just listen, and were really taking what was said on board."They heard of activities that are missing in the area, ideas to keep young people in the area and concerns about the affordability of housing. Kiama High School captain, Josh Hefren, was impressed by everyone raising their hand to get involved. “The issues related to all kids from year six through to year eleven. The format was nice, easy and good fun,” Josh says. Other students in attendance said they felt grateful, accepted, confident and encouraged throughout the experience. A videographer from Kiama High School was there to film the process, as well as a visual storyteller (above) to show a visual representation of the meeting. A report of the meeting will be compiled and sent to Council, and be available to the public through the business papers.

Beyond Empathy, a cultural arts for community development organisation, is inviting the community to come along to their film night where they will show snippets of two of their films, ahead of their series of workshops for youth.Protection tells the story of children from public housing estates in the Illawarra while Rites of Passage, which has been screened at international film festivals, follows six disadvantaged and marginalised teenagers who respond to the challenges surrounding them.There will be a Q&A with the cast and crew afterwards.The night will also launch a series of workshops for youth, aged 12-24 years old, that involves working with creators of award-winning films and podcasts to create their own work.“Whether it be podcasts or film, it’s something that young people can come together and create collaboratively,” says Beyond Empathy’s Shaniece Igano.“We are very excited to have everyone come and get to know us and see what we do.” Community Film Night, 3 March, Joyce Wheatley Community Hall, 7-9pm

Competing against adults, young Gerringong Surf Club members have again stepped up and impressed with 15 year old Wyland Hall named the 2023 Werri Warrior and last year’s surprise winner, 12 year old Lucy Darragh, right behind him in second place.This year’s event was one of the biggest with over 65 competitors and thousands of spectators lining the beach.It saw competitors of all ages set off at the same time to face a swim around a buoy, a run to the north end of Werri Beach, and another two swims before a final run to the top of Gerringong Headland and back. The action was captured by Brian Scott: At the beach: The 2023 Werri Warrior Competition. Member of Gerringong Surf Club, Richard Payne, who started the event seven years ago with his brother Mitch, says, “Both Wyland and Lucy have been training really hard with the Club all season. They are fantastic swimmers and good runners, so they had a really good battle for the top.Lucy presents Wyland with the coveted winner's jacket“The Club is certainly very proud of Wyland and Lucy and all the hard work that they have put in over the past couple of years to see them perform so well.” The competition also saw a number of 10 year old nippers complete the full course, with a group of younger nippers completing it as a team. “It was fantastic to see. It was an amazing effort from all of our young nippers,” Richard says.“It was a fantastic day with the best weather and surf conditions we’ve ever had. “It started off as a small surf club event that’s grown into a much larger event which brings a lot of people in to get involved, including Gerringong Lions and the Werri Boardriders."

Three keen high school students from the LGA will face a mock sitting in NSW Parliament House this weekend as the Youth Parliament program comes to an end. Daniel, Finlay and Alyssa joined like-minded people from across the State in the ten week program which gives young people the opportunity to engage with civic leadership, policy development and democratic parliamentary debate. The program has seen former Youth Parliamentarians go on to become Members of Parliament. Finlay, who says the program is an amazing experience, is encouraging others to join the next round. “I love my community and love the area of Kiama so us smaller town communities need to get out there, use our voice and show what we’re passionate about because this is the place to do it,” says Finlay, who is just 16 years old. “It’s a fun program and, at the end of the day, it’s not real parliament so the stakes aren’t high, and you can get to learn how the system works. It's really great.”  His committee – transport and infrastructure – has been looking at accessibility for disabled access into transport and infrastructure as well as mandatory inclusion zoning for social housing in new developments. “It is based on personal interest, and it is through that parliamentary and debate process that we have been able to refine our ideas, our bills and truly express the values of young people,” he says. Alyssa, who is also 16 years old, speaks very highly of the program and says it was the perfect ‘taste tester’ for what life as a parliamentarian is like. “I have always been a huge youth advocate and because I love this program so much, I definitely see myself running for a spot in parliament one day,” she says. Her justice committee is debating a bill on protesting rights where she hopes the ideas of young people can make a change and change the ministers’ attitudes. “It’s an amazing experience, especially to meet like-minded people from across the State who I would have never met and formed connections with.” 17-year-old Daniel also commented, “Kiama is a lovely area and an amazing community but in many ways it’s more insular than I realised, so bringing us out of our comfort zones and meeting all these truly different people is amazing.” While he is looking forward to debating his bill – which looks at the effects of COVID on education, particularly the mental health effects and the digitalisation – he says it isn’t the core of the program. “It’s the parliamentary education and getting kids into this amazing environment with this brilliant mood where there are interjections left right and centre, and fascinating debates. “It nurtures our ability to think for ourselves and hone our citizenships,” Daniel says. With politics a passion of his, he is interested in the debate and parliamentary process. “I have this love for democracy where I feel that as long as we are talking about issues and discussing issues, that we can move forward as a society.”See here for more information on Youth Parliament.