Students from four Upper Yarra primary schools are driving positive change through Change Squad, a new pilot program helping young Yarra Ranges voices turn ideas into action.
After several weeks preparing in the classroom, Grade 5 and 6 students from Warburton Primary School, Millwarra Primary Schools, Wesburn Primary School and Yarra Junction Primary School recently visited Lilydale Civic Centre for a full day of activities with Council.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said the Change Squad program combines a series of classroom activities and in-person events at Council, to help students learn more about the role of local government and the democratic process.
"Last week's event brought together a room full of enthusiastic students keen to learn more about how they can help make positive difference in their community," Cr Higgins said.
At the event, students heard from Australian of the Year finalist Jack Berne, who spoke about his TED Talk and raising more than $2 million for farmers at just 10 years old, and from four inspirational young Yarra Ranges residents who shared their experiences of driving change in the local community. They also learned about the variety of council roles and rotated through workshops focused on turning ideas into action.
Over the coming weeks, students will complete the final four class activities to help them develop their ideas further and prepare to pitch it to Council next month.
"It was an honour to meet these young people and see them engage with civic life," said Cr Higgins.
"I'm looking forward to seeing them back at Council next month, where they'll put everything they've learned through this program into practice by pitching their ideas for the chance to receive some funding to bring them to life."
"I'd like to thank their leaders and teachers at Warburton, Millwarra, Wesburn and Yarra Junction Primary Schools for working in partnership with Council to bring this opportunity to their students."
Council developed the new Change Squad program this year and invited four local schools to participate as part of a pilot. When it concludes later in the year, the pilot will be evaluated with the view to expanding it to more schools across the Yarra Ranges in future years.
