Two Students Selected To Carry The Torch For Central Coast Youth

16-year-old Phoebe Sheridan and 15-year-old Jayden Redfern will join 16 other young people from across regional NSW as members of the NSW Government’s Regional Youth Taskforce.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the Regional Youth Taskforce is a Ministerial advocacy group which has a direct line of access to the NSW Government to raise local issues faced by friends and classmates.

“Jayden and Phoebe have undergone a lengthy application process and I congratulate them on being successfully chosen to represent their peers and help make decisions that drive change,” Mr Crouch said.

“2020 brought with it the triple whammy of fires, floods and COVID-19, so it’s more important than ever that Central Coast young people are appropriately represented and have a voice at the table.”

Minister for Regional Youth Bronnie Taylor said the second-year cohort would build on their predecessors’ achievements, which included improvements to education, digital connectivity and public transport.

“The incredible young leaders from our first ever Taskforce were integral in pushing for an online licensing scheme which cut a lot of red tape and is already saving young people a long trip to a Service NSW Centre,” Mrs Taylor said.

“The 2019/20 Taskforce also helped shape holiday programs that gave hundreds of young people in drought and bushfire affected areas the chance to attend recreation camps, skills programs and community activities for free.

“The new Taskforce will have big shoes to fill, but I am really excited by their potential and am eager to hear their views on how the NSW Government can continue to make life better for young people living in the bush.”

The group, which includes two young people from each of the State’s nine regions, will meet for the first time later this month in Coffs Harbour to discuss the topic of “work-readiness”.