HORSHAM Rural City Council resumed meetings with young residents on Thursday.
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The Youth Matters initiative started in June last year.
Council meets monthly with a small committee of municipal residents aged 12 to 25.
Discussions are aimed at engaging youth and improving their relationship with local government.
“As a result of the project we will educate council staff on how best to communicate with young people and include them in our community engagement strategy,” council community facilitator Sally Pymer said.
“Hopefully when council has projects in future and asks for community input, young people will have more of a say.
“They’re our future and they have great ideas: we want to hear them.”
A short documentary will be a key component of the project.
Council has recorded a series of interviews with the municipality’s young people.
“We asked them what was important to them and how best to talk to them,” Ms Pymer said.
Interviewees were also asked to explain the role of council.
“We’re considering doing another film for young people, demonstrating what council does,” Ms Pymer said.
“We found a lot of young people don’t know what council can do for them.”
She said further filming was planned for this year. The documentary will be released in June to coincide with the $30,000 project’s conclusion.
Youth Matters is funded through the State Government’s Local Government Youth Inclusion Grants program.