Nominations are now open for the Central Coast Youth Week Awards which will be presented at The Hub youth entertainment venue at Erina.
The Youth Week Awards, which coincide with NSW Youth Week, are run by Central Coast Council and the youth sector to honour the contributions of young people in the community.
Council’s Unit Manager Leisure Beach Safety and Community Facilities, Phil Cantillon, said with more than 50,000 young people living on the Central Coast, their thoughts, attitudes, opinions and ideas were vital to the future of the region.
“The Awards shine a spotlight on remarkable young individuals who are making a difference,” he said.
“While academic and athletic accomplishments have always been celebrated, three new awards also focus on young people who have dedicated their time and effort to making their communities better places to live.
“These include the First Nations Cultural Award, the updated Social Impact in Education/Community Award and Environment and Ethical Sustainability Award.
“Many nominations come from teachers and coaches, who are keen to see young people get the recognition they deserve.”
There are 11 award categories and anyone can nominate an eligible young person who meets the selection criteria.
“A nominee could be a young person who has demonstrated excellence in our vibrant arts and entertainment industry on the Coast, someone involved in a sporting or non-profit organisation, who has raised funds for a charity, created positive change in sustainability, made a contribution to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts culture and community, a young entrepreneur or mentor,” Cantillon said.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the awards were an important demonstration of the Central Coast’s support for young people and their contributions in making the Coast a better place.
“There is a diverse, talented and ambitious population of young people who are helping to shape the future of our wonderful community on the Coast,” he said.
“The Central Coast Youth Week Awards ceremony is a wonderful evening for the youth sector to celebrate young people, and an opportunity to provide finalists with the recognition in the community they deserve for their achievements.”
Award categories include: Arts and Entertainment; Community Service and Activity; Environment and Ethical Sustainability; First Nations Cultural; Social Impact in Education/Community; Sportsperson of the Year; Youth Entrepreneur; Youth Leadership (Individual); Youth Leadership (Group); and Youth Volunteer of the Year.
The awards also include a Nominator Award category which is a chance for a Central Coast school or service that has nominated at least one young person for an award to win $1,000 to roll out a program to continue to benefit young people.
Nominations are open until Sunday, February 25, 2024.
To be eligible an applicant must be an Australian citizen living in the Central Coast Local Government Area.
Finalists and their guests will be invited to attend the Central Coast Youth Week Awards presentation night where all award winners will be announced.
The program is funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
For further information, eligibility criteria and to make a nomination visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/youth
Source:
Central Coast Council