The Shellharbour Civic Centre was transformed into a hub of ideas, energy, and connection on Thursday, 23 October as Shellharbour City Council hosted its annual Youth Summit, bringing together the next generation.
More than 150 young people attended the summit including students from Amity College, St Joseph's Catholic High School, Corpus Christi, Lake Illawarra High School, Warilla High School, Albion Park High School, and Oak Flats High School, as well as young people from local organisations such as Southern Youth and Family Services and Koori Youth - Aboriginal Kultcha Konnection.
Caption: Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer taking part in official activities at the 2025 Youth Summit. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council
There were also plenty of local organisations that took part including University of Wollongong, TAFE NSW, Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra, Sonder Youth, and Warilla Neighbourhood Centre.
Established in 2019, the Shellharbour Youth Summit unites young people from across the local government area to connect with peers, hear from inspiring speakers and local leaders, and engage with the community. The event fosters leadership, personal growth and inspires participants to thrive in all areas of life.
A key highlight of the day was the star-studded panel in attendance including six-time Australian bodyboarding champion Lilly Pollard, shark attack survivor turned motivational speaker Brett Connellan, globally focused water engineer and UN Youth Representative Meg Cummins, as well as Jacob Finch and Ben Salvatori from local rock band The Terry's.
The event brought together pro athletes, engineers, and artists, showing young people that with a passion and purpose, anything is possible.
Mayor Homer said the day gave the next generation a brilliant opportunity to learn about local government operations and explore career pathways.
"The Shellharbour Youth Summit is more than just an event, it's a platform for young people to be heard, to connect, and to contribute meaningfully to our community," Mayor Homer said.
"Their ideas and energy are shaping the future of Shellharbour, and we're proud to support them every step of the way.
"With over 12,500 residents aged 12 to 24, youth represent an influential 16.4% of Shellharbour's population. Their voices and ideas are central to our city's growth."
Throughout the day, students took part in interactive sessions with guest speakers, conversations with Shellharbour councillors, networking opportunities, as well as games, entertainment, and giveaways.
KEY MESSAGES:
• The Shellharbour Youth Summit provided a platform for approximately 150 young Shellharbour people from local high schools to connect, be heard, and contribute meaningfully to their community.
• Through direct engagement with the Mayor and councillors, students explored local government operations, voiced their ideas, and strengthened their connections.
• Guest speakers Lilly Pollard, Brett Connellan, and Meg Cummins inspired students to dream big, showing that with passion and purpose, they can overcome challenges and achieve success in any field.
