Local Member hosts youth leadership forum
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch hosted almost 80 high school students from 16 different Central Coast High Schools last month for a Central Coast Youth Leadership Forum.
The students came to learn how to be a leader and to provide innovative solutions to issues facing the Central Coast, she said.
The students met at the University of Newcastle, 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.
The school leaders were also given the opportunity to ask questions of Ms Tesch and Federal Member for Dobell Ms Emma McBride, who spoke of their journeys of leadership and the key issues facing the community.
Students also participated in a scenario where they had been appointed as the government and had to identify their top priorities as a new government.
"It provided valuable insight as to government policy and the innovative solutions young people have to community concerns," said Ms Tesch.
"Students raised issues that mattered to them and their peers, including cost-of-living pressures, mental health, housing availability, climate change, education, and employment."
Ms Tesch said it was a fantastic opportunity to hear the voices of young people.
"As a former high school teacher, I feel it is so important to provide a space for young people to raise issues with me and for the government to learn about what the issues are for our future generation."
SOURCE:
Media release, 20 Nov 2024
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford