Eleven people aged 13-17 were formally inducted into the 2026 Youth Council at a City Hall ceremony this week.
Councillors, family and friends watched on as the group elected Vignesh Ram, 15, to lead the Youth Council as Junior Mayor and Bailey Roberts, 14, as Deputy Junior Mayor.
Members have already taken part in a three-day orientation, led by the City and in partnership with Youth Leadership Academy Australia.
During this period, they created a new charter, developed key priority areas and decided on a project to focus on throughout the year. Their key priorities are:
- Protecting native land skies and waterways
- Youth Health & Wellbeing
- Economic Equality and Opportunity
- Inclusivity & Safety within the community
Over the next 11 months, the group will meet monthly to consider matters affecting young people. At the conclusion of their term, they will present advice and recommendations to Council on ways to enhance the experience of growing up in Greater Geelong.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:
Members should feel very proud of this achievement, as they faced stiff competition to get to this point.They were selected from a pool of 26 candidates and nearly 2,100 votes from their peers across 17 local schools.
Council is excited to work alongside this important advisory committee and hear directly from young people about what matters to them.
"I'm confident these individuals will make a difference in the community and use their new knowledge and skills in all aspects of their lives.
Junior Mayor Vignesh Ram:
I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent young people across Greater Geelong.Our Youth Council is excited to learn, collaborate and advocate on issues that matter to us, and we're looking forward to making a positive difference together.
