Past MYAC Events
2023
Wellbeing and Self-care Youth Forum – July 2023
On Friday 21 July, the Maribyrnong Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC) delivered the Wellbeing and Self-care Youth Forum. This event was designed and delivered by MYAC in partnership with Maribyrnong Youth Services, as part of Victoria’s Government ENGAGE! Program.
The forum aimed to engage young people across Maribyrnong to access information and voice their experiences and opinions. Approximately 35 secondary school students were in attendance from Years 9, and five teachers from the participating schools: Maribyrnong College, Footscray High and Western English Language School.
MYAC’s decision to facilitate a Youth Forum focused on Mental Health Wellbeing was informed by previous work done by MYAC, including last year’s Youth Forum. One of our MYAC members – Sunny Nguyen, lead a research project as part of his work with the University of Melbourne on the challenges young people faced during the COVID19 pandemic, and any lasting effects the pandemic had on their mental health wellbeing. Over 50 young people in the municipality were interviewed. This was a youth participatory project and in involved large discussions and advisory groups. Mental health, wellbeing and the need for support in self- care management was identified as the key theme as needing to be addressed.
MYAC transformed 4 rooms at the Phoenix Youth Centre into wellbeing and self-care spaces. Each room catered for an interactive activity, and to showcase different ways of practising self-care.
Chill out Space – this space was set in the Bunker which is a soundproof room. Students participated in a 10-minute guided meditation and enjoyed the sounds of the sea.
Affirmation Station – was held in the multi-purpose space where students were asked to take a polaroid picture of themselves or a prop/object and write an affirmation that was best suited to them.
Animal Therapy – was held outside where students could interact with bunny Mocha and dog Murphey.
Therapeutic Art Space – was held in the training room where students all contributed to a large canvas and were asked to illustrate their interpretation of wellbeing.
The second half of the day involved multiple consultations delivered by MYAC member Sunny Nguyen and Dr. Katitza Chavez from the University of Melbourne. The consultation was based around the Commission for Children and Young People’s Empowerment and Participation Guide, where students were asked to share their thoughts on co-creating safe spaces in the municipality. Guest speaker and well-being coach Antonie NG closed the event on a huge high.
These findings are the source to shaping MYAC’s future work and ensuring young people participate in a safe space.
2022
Maribyrnong Climate Change Youth Forum - May 2022
On Wednesday 4 May 2022, the Maribyrnong Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC) and Maribyrnong City Council Youth Services, hosted Maribyrnong’s Climate Change Youth Forum at Phoenix Youth Centre. The Maribyrnong Climate Change Youth Forum was designed and delivered by MYAC, in partnership with Council’s Youth Services and as part of Victoria’s Government ENGAGE! Program.
The forum aimed to engage young people across Maribyrnong to access information and voice their experiences and opinions. Approximately 50 secondary school students were in attendance from Years 9 and 10, and seven teachers from the participating schools: Maribyrnong College, Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Footscray High and Western English Language School.
Young people engaged in a range of interactive climate focused activities and listened to keynote speeches from topic experts and climate activists:
• Katta O’Donnel - A law student who sued the Government for the financial implications of climate change.
• Lili Mayer - From the youth-led not for profit activist organisation Schools Strike 4 Climate Change.
- Panel discussions with Council’s Climate Emergency Lead Tiffany Harrison, Dr Katitza Marinkovic from University of Melbourne’s Young People Climate Change Capital, and both keynote presenters.
- Student led conversations, which were co-facilitated by MYAC members and Youth Services.
- Council officers from the Community Engagement Department participated and promoted Council’s Sustainability Learnings Portal
- An interactive advocacy workshop facilitated by Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic), Victoria’s peak youth advocacy body.
Reports
See below for the written reports from the Forum. Findings in the report are largely from the student-led conversation component of the forum.
Climate Change Youth Forum - Overview(PDF, 1MB)
Climate Change Youth Forum - Outcomes Report(PDF, 9MB)
Next steps
- Support local secondary schools to implement key climate actions
- Continue to collaborate with Maribyrnong Youth Services to implement key climate actions
- Continue to advocate to Government, Council, schools and community to address key gaps (climate emergency) identified by young people
- Continue provide young people with platforms that promote youth voice, youth participation and youth action across our municipality and beyond
2019
Young People's Platform - 2019 to 2022
Maribyrnong Young People's Platform 2019 - 2022