State Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has hailed the 2023 Youth Leadership Forum a huge success in bringing together school leaders from across the Central Coast to share ideas on how to shape a brighter future for our community.
More than 50 school leaders from across the region joined together at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast Research Institute to discuss the future of leadership, exploring what leadership means to them and discussing how young people can be empowered to address issues that matter most to them.
Tesch said the opportunity to connect young leaders from across the Coast was a joy for everyone involved.
“We don’t have many opportunities for Central Coast young leaders to join together and network, while feeling empowered to dream big, exploring the issues affecting them,” she said.
“I was thrilled to bring together everyone at our annual Central Coast Youth Leadership Forum.
“The fantastic Central Coast Research Institute provided a wonderful backdrop for the student leaders to dream about what the future holds and I thank the University of Newcastle for hosting us.”
The school leaders were given the opportunity to ask questions of their local representatives, NSW Minister for Police and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley, Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride, Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid and State Member for The Entrance David Mehan, all of whom spoke of their journeys to leadership before joining the groups to discuss issues affecting young people across the community.
“Our Central Coast MPs from across the Federal and State governments were thrilled to have the opportunity to answer the leaders’ questions and talk one-on-one with the students as peers, discussing their concerns and working together to discuss future solutions,” Tesch said.
“Students were so excited to speak with their government representatives in an accessible way.
“They raised issues that mattered to them and their peers, including mental health support, domestic violence, cost of living, education and discrimination, discussing the impacts of these issues and innovative solutions in collaboration with each other.
“We will also be exploring opportunities to continue to bring our Central Coast leaders together across the year.
“I look forward to the 2024 Youth Leadership Forum.”
Source:
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch