Shirine Is Excited To Be Selected To NSW Youth Advisory Council

When Griffith Council’s Youth Advisory Group member Shirine Nehme learned that her application to join the NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for 2025 had been successful, she was relieved.

“When I was informed I had been selected, I was so excited and a little bit relieved,” Ms Nehme said.

“To be honest, my family and I had been eagerly anticipating a call.”

Ms Nehme said she was very appreciative of Griffith City Council’s Youth Advisor Ellie Andreazza’s continued support and encouragement.

“Having her encouragement gave me extra confidence and a better trust in my own abilities,” Ms Nehme said.

“I think youth in regional areas tend to feel like their voices are not heard and may not be aware of opportunities like the ACYP YAC.

“It is easy to feel unseen.

“Being able to amplify the concerns of rural youth is very important to me and I am eager to work towards creating tangible solutions.

“As well as bringing more attention to my peers that there are platforms for their ideas to be heard to a wider and more significant audience - platforms like the Griffith Council YAG and the ACYP YAC, among others.”

Ms Nehme shared some of the highlights of her time as a member of YAG.

“The YAG has been an amazing way to meet like-minded people you may normally not know,” she said.

“Our fortnightly meetings are a great space for collaborative discussion and fun conversation, as we plan our events and community initiatives.

“This being done in a relaxed and congenial environment with amazing facilitators has allowed us to provide the community with a Drive-In Movie Night, Roller Discos, A Splash of Summer and numerous other events.

“A definite favourite of mine is one of our music festivals - Sounds of Autumn - where we showed off our young local talent.”

Ms Nehme hopes to be completing a doctorate in medicine five years from now, aiming to specialise in paediatrics.

• Topics:

• Local Council
• Community Groups