Before they were respectively the Mayor and a Councillor at The Hills Shire Council, Dr Peter Gangemi and Jessica Brazier were Hills Shire Youth Ambassadors.
Mayor Gangemi, who was elected as Youth Ambassador in 2010, and Councillor Brazier, who secured the role in 2014, both attribute the positive experience they had during the Youth Ambassadors Program as one of the main reasons they decided to pursue a career with Council later in life.
"It was a great opportunity to learn about the function of Council, provide input to what issues most impacted the youth of the area and continue to volunteer, including at Council events and initiatives such as Youth Week," Mayor Gangemi said of his time as a Youth Ambassador.
"It was also a chance to see more of the Shire, and this only increased my desire to help out and serve the community," he added.
Clr Brazier said the program was her first-ever experience interacting with Council.
"It's so important for the youth in our area to have a genuine voice and equally for elected representatives to hear first-hand the issues concerning our young people," Clr Brazier added.
The search for Council's 2022-2023 Hills Youth Ambassador is now on.
The program is open to young people aged between 15 to 24 years who live in The Hills Shire Local Government Area (LGA).
Those who are successful will be involved in youth activities during Youth Week, Mental Health Month and other Council led events and initiatives. In addition to this, they could be asked to attend or speak at Council functions, such as Australia Day, as well as volunteer at Council events and provide direction to Council's youth volunteer group, the Hills Youth Army.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn more about local government, gain leadership experience and make sure that young people are represented at a Council level," Mayor Gangemi added.
To nominate yourself or someone else, visit The Hills Shire Council's website (www.thehills.nsw.gov.au) and search "Sydney Hills Youth Ambassador Program" and complete the online application form.
Nominations close at 5pm on Monday, March 25.
