Youth Ambassadors 2019-2025

2025 Wrap Up

The 2025 Youth Ambassadors program finished with an amazing presentation afternoon to family, teachers and Councillors on Tuesday 11 November. Over the past four weeks 28 Grade 5 students from schools throughout Indigo Shire came together to strengthen their leadership skills, learn more about what they care about and how they contribute positively to their communities. Throughout the sessions the young people learnt about the different ways they can be leaders, how they can use words, body language and creativity to connect with people and be heard about what is important to them.

Facilitated by the two Indigo Shire Youth Officers, the program was designed to get young people thinking about what they care about, consider the variety of ways leadership can be demonstrated, meet other inspiring leaders and of course make new friends. Each week the group visited a new town in Indigo Shire, allowing them to explore new places and observe the varied landscapes across the shire. 

Week 1 was held in Chiltern and focused on students getting to meet each other and learn more about themselves. 

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Week 2 was held in Barnawartha, this week we looked at videos, artwork and stories from inspiring Australians and explored what Leadership can look and sound like.

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Week 3 was held in Yackandandah and introduced the Youth Ambassadors to local leaders and the varied ways that leadership can be shown. This group included

  • Ella Cheeseman, former Indigo Shire Peer Youth Officer who led the Indigo Shire Youth Advisory Group in 2022-2023
  • Mieke Bosland, Indigo Shire Youth Advisory Group member since 2022
  • Charlie Bos, current member of the Youth Advisory Group, and the youngest of the speakers at just 14
  • Lara May, Youth Officer from our neighbouring Alpine Shire Council
  • Libby Hosking, chair of the Aturo Island Friendship group and long time supporter of the Indigo Shire Youth Ambassador program.
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At the final session, held in Beechworth, the young ambassadors had the opportunity to share with important people in their life what they had learnt throughout the program. They ran an amazing presentation, full of fun, interactive activities which they had done throughout the program to showcase how their leadership skills had grown. A highlight of their day was presenting their speech about what they care about to round table groups where they were asked questions about what is important to them and how they showcase leadership in their lives. It was a great opportunity for these young people to be heard by older people and feel empowered to express themselves. They also showed off their cool creations, hats, bracelets, sculptures and bags which they branded with their chosen topic of importance! So if you see any youth ambassadors around the shire with their colourful creations, don’t be shy to ask them what it is they care about and why!

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100% of the participants said that they enjoyed participating and that they would recommend it to a friend. One young leader said that ‘I feel like I really understand what I care about after completing the program’ while another said ‘I felt like I belonged’. Highlighting the positivity of this program for our Shire’s young people and our future leaders.

 

 

2024 Wrap Up

The annual Youth Ambassador Program, funded by the Victorian Government through their Engage Grant and facilitated by The Mandala Project, has been delivered for 5 years. The program brings together grade 5 students from across Indigo Shire for an 8 week program to build personal skills and young people to create positive change in their communities. Each year the students learning is put into practice through a youth-led fundraising activity for the Atauro Island Friendship Group.

The program brought together 26 students who are passionate about creating positive change in their local communities, to work on communication, values, mental health, asset mapping, project management and public speaking.

In 2024, our Year 5 young leaders from across Indigo Shire represented Wahgunyah PS, Kiewa PS, Middle Indigo PS, Upper Sandy Creek PS, Barnawartha PS, Wooragee PS, Chiltern PS, Yackandandah PS, Beechworth PS, Beechworth Montessori, St Mary's Rutherglen Primary, Rutherglen PS and St. Joseph’s Chiltern PS. 

The group of ambassadors was given the opportunity to become the youth voice representing their school, gain skills and mentoring in leadership and have a say about the future of their community by becoming agents of positive change. Session themes were a combination of leadership, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and included weekly guest speakers.

The program also included a fundraising component in which the ambassadors organised activities to raise funds for the Atauro Island Friendship Group, in order to support their community development activities in Timor Leste. Through their efforts, 13 different fundraisers were developed and $3257 donated to the group. 

Participants were nominated by their schools, and all Indigo Shire Primary schools were given the opportunity to participate in the program. Transport was organised for everyone to attend sessions held in Chiltern, Yackandandah and Beechworth.

 

 

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