Alanah is a proud Filipino who has since called Gladstone her home. During her early days in town, the many positive impacts the community had on her made her want to give back. She has now joined the Youth Council and can proudly say that she is a part of a group that advocates for positive changes. Alanah is excited to carry out the previous Youth Council's action plan with the rest of the members.    

Outside of the Youth Council, she volunteers at the art gallery, regularly absorbing inspiration from various creatives throughout the region, fuelling her creative pursuits.   

Alanah dedicates her days to pursuing a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Design at CQU. Through improving her communication and leadership skills in the Youth Council, she hopes to continue to contribute to making the world a better place. 

Ava 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. Additionally, Ava is a member of the Toolooa State High School Dance Troupe, contributing to a team that competes and shares their passion for dance. 

Her community involvement extends to the Gladstone Gymnastics Club, where she has diligently trained as a gymnast for the past 16 years. In a coaching capacity, Ava is an accredited coach and judge and loves inspiring younger gymnasts, fostering a love for the sport. Ava wanted to join the Youth Council for the amazing opportunities and to be an active youth citizen in her community. She is very passionate about the environment and volunteering within the Gladstone Region. She is excited for the opportunities ahead, being a part of the Youth Council. 

Bailey 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.  

Passionate about mental health, Bailey is a member of the Headspace Youth Reference Group and is currently completing a Certificate IV in Youth Work. Being indigenous, he loves engaging with Elders and hearing their stories, inspiring to be a good storyteller himself. In his spare time, you may find him thrill-seeking doing activities such as skydiving.  

Bailey joined the Youth Council as he is passionate about politics and would love to one day work for Local Government. This interest was sparked through attending the Queensland Indigenous Leadership Program. Bailey is passionate about inclusion for all youth and sharing a youth perspective with Council.  

Holly 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. 

As a returning member of the Youth Council, she aims to enhance her advocacy and leadership skills, continue raising awareness, and put plans into action to make a difference in her community and beyond. She believes that increasing education and resources in schools on mental health and accessibility to help for young people would have a positive impact. Holly is studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health and has recently been accepted into university to study a Bachelor of Psychological Science.  

Additionally, Holly advocates for more education on topics such as criminal activity, youth crime, drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure to better inform the region's youth about the risks involved and why it's important to avoid such behaviours. Holly is eager to contribute to social media content creation for the Youth Council and further develop her public speaking skills. 

Jaya 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. In this program, she performs and competes in events through the school.   

Outside of school, Jaya has enjoyed competing in the Gladstone Speech and Drama Eisteddfods for the past 8 years. Her aspirations involve pursuing a career in medicine and travelling across the globe. Jaya joined the Youth Council to become a more active member in the community. She is passionate about celebrating diversity and looks forward to exploring new opportunities within the Youth Council. 

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

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. 

He enjoys adventuring beneath the surface by scuba diving off our stunning Central East Coast and in his spare time, dabbles in experimenting with electronics. 

One of Lochie's greatest joys is encouraging and supporting young individuals, aspiring to witness a more active involvement of youth within the community. 

Logan 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. 

Logan has joined the Youth Council because, as a young person living in the Gladstone Region, he sees areas that need improvement. He sees this as an avenue to express his thoughts and opinions and to start to implement positive change to improve outcomes for our region. 

He looks forward to gaining experience and building connections within the Gladstone Regional Council. Logan is very passionate about continuing and developing the liveability and sustainability of our region. He also believes that accountability and transparency in government are paramount. Logan hopes to use his ideas and passions to help improve the Gladstone Region moving forward. 

Mily 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. She has always been passionate about leadership and strives to be able to become a voice for others, including friends, peers, and fellow council members.   

Mily joined the Youth Council to deliver ideas and strive for success within not only our youth community but the Gladstone Region's community. She is very passionate about disability rights and giving back to the community, especially for underprivileged youth. Mily is excited to pursue her dreams and share her passions with fellow council members and the community. 

Naomi-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.  

Whether it is artworks, marketing campaigns for Australian small businesses or teaching art programs online or in person, Naomi-Jon is using her creativity to make a difference. She hopes to continue to expand her focus this year on turning youth advocacy into tangible changes through diverse programs that create safe and inclusive places for all ages, online and in-person.  

Niel 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.  

Niel is dedicated to advocating for youth and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard, acknowledging that youth are the future and the opinions of youth matter. He has an adoration of key figures of social movements, inspired by past activists such as Solomon Mahlangu, Nelson Mandela, Malala, and MLK. In studying their histories, Niel aspires to better himself and fight for humanitarian virtues.  

Oneli 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 a difference.   

Oneli joined the Youth Council to help young people feel heard and valued. She believes many youth today feel disconnected from their voices and don’t always get the chance to speak up. By being part of the Youth Council, she hopes to create a more inclusive community where everyone feels like they belong and can openly share their opinions. She also sees this as an opportunity to challenge herself, step out of her comfort zone, and find her place in the community.   

With dreams of studying medicine and becoming a child neurologist, Oneli is determined to keep making an impact, both now and in the future. 

Rosharne 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. This aspiration led her to seek involvement in the Youth Council. 

Joining the Youth Council not only promises to broaden her understanding of the community but also to enhance her leadership and teamwork abilities. Rosharne is dedicated to making the Gladstone Region a better place for young people, aiming to inspire her peers to actively participate in community affairs. 

Samantha 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.  

With previous leadership experience during high school, Samantha is excited to be a part of the Youth Council. She hopes to enhance her leadership skills, advocate for important social issues, and contribute to creating a positive environment for young people. Samantha is especially passionate about the view of youth crime and broader youth issues such as education, cost of living, health, and employment.  

As an accredited mental health first aider, she is also committed to supporting mental health initiatives. Samantha looks forward to working alongside like-minded peers to address these challenges. Her involvement in the Youth Council will help her continue to grow as a leader and advocate for meaningful change, particularly in areas related to youth and policy. 

Tairui 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. 

Tairui joined the Youth Council for the opportunity to advocate for positive change for youth in Gladstone. He believes spreading awareness and education are the vital first steps to begin genuine change for problems he notices among his peers.  

He is excited to be a member of the Youth Council to refine his leadership and communication skills and establish relationships with like-minded peers. Tairui hopes his contribution of opinions and ideas will lead to the betterment of the youth in our Gladstone Region community. 

Zachary 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. Zach views the Youth Council as a platform to advocate for young people and represent their voices. 

Aspiring to make a difference in healthcare, Zach is an ambitious ATAR student focused on a career in medicine. With a passion for health and wellbeing, he aims to increase medical opportunities in regional areas and inspire others to pursue healthcare careers. 

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, 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!