The Northern Territory Youth Round Table has met in Darwin, giving young Territorians a voice to discuss key issues- with a minister ready to listen.
22 young people from 15 to 23 from across the Top End will advice the Minister for Youth, the government and stakeholders and contribute to their community.
They also participate in community activities to develop leadership skills.
Critical issues like education, employment, youth justice and the enivroment are deemed critical issues
Members also raised concerns around housing affordability, cost of living, mental health, domestic violence, and substance use, reflecting the challenges faced by young people in the Northern Territory.
Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality Jinson Charls highlighted the importance of the Youth Round Table in ensuring that young voices are heard and valued.
“Young people are an important part of our community and are our future leaders. It’s essential we provide them with forums like the Youth Round Table to have their say and influence change,” Jinson Charls said.
“Their voices matter, and I had some very interesting discussions with them about what they see as the current challenges and their ideas on how we can overcome them,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to building on these relationships throughout the year and hearing more about how we can work together, along with industry professionals and community partners, to bring to life some of the creative and strategic initiatives they have in mind.”
And the group has a history of going on to make a difference after the program.
Previous members, such as Dante Rodrigues and Jahdai Vigona, co-founded the One Percent Program, helping young people strengthen community connections.
Rohan Kealy used his experience in the program to launch a project distributing 2,000 Mental Health Brochures to Year 7 students across Darwin and Palmerston, ensuring they have access to critical mental health resources as they transition to middle school.
