Youth Council

1. Your Voice. Your Community. Your Impact.

The Gladstone Region Youth Council acts as a formal advisory committee to Council on youth-related matters within the region.

Participants gain skills and knowledge that will help them in their future career, such as teamwork, community engagement, asset based community development, leadership, project planning, public speaking, and democratic skills.

The program offers Council a platform through which to engage with young people and ensures Council has a better understanding of issues that are pertinent to young people in our region.

Terms of Reference(PDF, 156KB)

Youth Council members range from 15 to 24 years old, with some still attending school. Because of this, the Youth Council's annual term aligns with the Queensland school year.

Youth Council members meet on the first and third Monday of the month, excluding public and school holidays. Members serve an initial one-year term and can seek re-appointment for a subsequent term.

Gladstone Region Youth Council 2024 - 2025 Action Plan(PDF, 3MB)

2. Engaging with the Youth Council

External organisations can consult with Youth Council members and gain feedback on youth-related topics that could provide capacity-building opportunities within their organisation and the community.

Lodge a formal request with briefing notes if a person or organisation wishes to consult the Youth Council. Officers will assess the relevance and appropriateness of the request in consultation with the Youth Council and decide whether the request is granted or refused.

Engagement application form

3. Gladstone Region Youth Council Members

Doug Hoffmann

 Chairperson

  • ProfileDoug is a 21-year-old who is the Administrative Assistant at NFP House, specialising in IT, marketing, media, and project coordination/delivery. He is an active member in the Gladstone community, attending and supporting various community events.

Alanah Mayo

 Member

  • ProfileAlanah is a proud Filipino who has since called Gladstone her home. She has now joined the Youth Council and can proudly say that she is a part of a group that advocates for positive changes.

Ava Hetherington

 Member

  • ProfileAva is currently in Year 12 and is the School Captain at Toolooa State High School. Her commitment to community service is evident through her active participation in the Toolooa State High School Senior Leadership Team and Interact Club, where she engages in volunteer work and fundraising initiatives for various charities and organisations.

Bailey Dawson

 Member

  • ProfileBailey is new to the Gladstone Region, having lived here for the past three years, and brings a unique perspective to the group, having lived in many towns around Australia. He is proud to now call the Gladstone Region home and is a dedicated community member, volunteering for groups including PCYC, Orange Sky, Headspace, Mindcare, and the SES.

Holly

 Member

  • ProfileHolly has been recognized for her work in suicide prevention awareness and was a finalist in the Young Achiever Awards for her advocacy in Youth Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Program, Leslee’s Sunflower.

Jayavarsheini Sivananthan

 Member

  • ProfileJaya is a diligent student, completing her final year at Gladstone State High School. She is an ambitious individual involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, including both academic and cultural pursuits. Furthermore, she is a member of the Gladstone State High School Instrumental Music Program.

Lochie Cathcart

 Member

  • ProfileLochie, a 22-year-old resident of Gladstone, has been deeply rooted in the community for 19 years.Lochlain Cathcart

    He dedicates his days to his role as a transport and logistics officer at BSL while pursuing a Bachelor of IT at CQU. Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, Lochie is a prominent figure in the scouting movement and holds a deep passion for the environment.

Logan Althaus

 Member

  • ProfileLogan is a year 12 student at Tannum Sands State High School. He is currently a member of STARS, which is a component of the Student Council at Tannum High. He has lived in Boyne Island his entire life. He is currently working towards achieving an ATAR that will allow him to explore his passions for Politics and History.

Mily Jalass

 Member

  • ProfileMily is a dedicated and passionate year 12 student at Toolooa State High School. She loves the arts, volleyball, science, and playing with her rock band. She displays her passion through her leadership roles in her school's senior leadership program as well as her commitment to being a science ambassador for the University of Queensland.

Naomi-Jon Redshaw

 Member

  • ProfileNaomi-Jon is a local artist, freelance art teacher, and graphic designer who draws inspiration from the Gladstone Region’s resilience. This has made her passionate about creating connections and advocating for others, especially with mental health awareness and climate change.

Niel Torres

 Member

  • ProfileNiel is a year 11 student at Toolooa State High School, adamantly passionate about learning. Constantly working to improve himself and the Gladstone Region, he is a member of his school’s Interact Club, a UQ Science Ambassador, and has now joined the Youth Council to educate himself on politics to become an active and well-informed citizen.

Oneli Peiris

 Member

  • ProfileOneli was born in Sri Lanka and is proud of her cultural heritage, while embracing Gladstone as the community she has grown up in. Currently in Year 11 at Chanel College, she is an active member of the Student Representative Council. Passionate about youth advocacy, diversity, and the environment, she is always looking for ways to create positive change. More than anything, she just wants to make

Rosharne Cakau

 Member

  • ProfileRosharne is a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander Woman. She actively engages in community events, driven by her love for her culture. Rosharne finds fulfilment in teaching others about her heritage and showcasing it through dance. As a former student council president, she graduated in 2021 with a desire to extend her leadership role.

Samantha Steemson

 Member

  • ProfileSamantha is a second-year university student studying a Bachelor of Justine, majoring in Criminology and Policing and minoring in both Law and Policy and Politics Passionate about justice and community engagement, she aims to apply her academic knowledge to make a real impact in her community.

Tairui Zang

 Member

  • ProfileTairui is a year 11 student at Toolooa State High School who has lived in Gladstone his whole life. He has been involved in leadership committees throughout his schooling years, sparking a passion for helping others. He regularly volunteers in the local community. Tairui is currently on an ATAR pathway, hoping to pursue his passion in working in medicine.

Zachary Pulido

 Member

  • ProfileZachary is a dedicated Year 11 student at Trinity College, committed to making a positive impact on his school and community. As a member of Trinity’s Student Council, Zach enjoys discussing youth issues and school events. Eager to step outside his comfort zone, he joined the Youth Council to build connections and broaden his understanding of the local community.
 

4. What’s happening in Youth Council

April 2025

Youth Council members headed to the Youth Conference in Gracemere to ensure Gladstone's voices were part of the regional story.Youth Summit in Gracemere 1

The goal? To learn how to create welcoming spaces where young people can connect, share their dreams, tackle challenges, and explore how to give back.

They also explored ways to team up with organisations to bring these ideas to life!

View the Youth Conference report(PDF, 3MB)

March 2025

Youth Council has hit the ground running in 2025, currently finalising a project to have a UV Meter installed at Agnes Water Beach. The Agnes Water region rate of melanoma is 57% higher than the national average, which is why the Youth Council has selected this location to use their grant funding obtained through the Sun Safe CQ Funding Initiative. The UV Meter provides an accurate reading of solar UV radiation in real time and signage that describes actions correlated with the numerical reading, which informs the public on the correct action to apply the appropriate sun protection. Through seeing the UV Meter, Youth Council hopes that they can keep sun safety at the front of mind for both locals and visitors to the region.

The committee is in the early stages of preparing a community survey that will inform a youth stall at the 2025 Art and Science Innovation Fest at Central Queensland University. The survey will focus on what youth think Gladstone will look like in the year 2100! Keep an eye out for the youth survey and share!

Brainstorming session with Rebecca Cunningham

Brainstorming session with Rebecca Cunningham, curator of the upcoming Art Science Innovation Fest.

Youth Council was excited to welcome Council’s Disaster Resilience and Recovery Officer to a recent meeting. They learnt about Region Watch and were able to provide Council with a youth perspective on how to best reach youth on social media, including the incorporation of current music and memorable tag lines.

Several members are attending the QAL Community Advisory Committee Meeting to offer a youth perspective to the community and have also been invited to attend the opening of CQ Hydrogen Hub, a project that last year’s committee provided input on with the design and content in the hub. They can’t wait to get a sneak peek of this amazing facility!

5. Schedule of meetings

Meetings of the Gladstone Region Youth Council for 2025:

  • February 10, 17
  • March 3, 17, 31
  • April 28
  • May 19
  • June 2, 16
  • July 21
  • August 4, 18
  • September 1, 15
  • October 13
  • November 3, 17

Minutes of meetings

6. See Also

Youth Services
Youth Summit
Youth Council 2024 - 2025 Action Plan(PDF, 3MB)

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