With support from Hindmarsh Shire Council and its staff, the youth council are responsible for organising events such as pool parties, live music, movie nights and other activies for youth in the shire.

Youth Council also provides its councillors with many learning opportunities and helps to develop leadership, public speaking and project management skills.

The Wimmera Mail-Times spoke to four councillors in the 2021 cohort about what they have gained from the program and what issues most impact them.

Tessa became a youth councillor out of a desire to improve the shire's facilities for young people.

"I chose to become a youth councillor because I want to be involved in making the shire and the community a better place for young people," she said.

"I wanted to be involved in helping to set up events for the young people and helping to get ideas for what we can put into the towns to make them safe and friendlier for kids my age."

Tessa is a year 10 student at Rainbow P-12 College, plays netball for Jeparit Rainbow Storm, and works as a publicity officer for the Rainbow P-12 Student Representative Council.

In her role at youth council, Tessa has brought new ideas to improve the shire's libraries.

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"In our meetings, we all contribute ideas, most for Freeza events because we haven't been able to have many, if at all, this year," she said.

"We have also been figuring out how to make the community libraries places that are more kid-friendly.

"As a youth councillor, I get ideas from the other young people in my town so that I can bring them up in future meetings. So far this year, we haven't had many events but we definitely have some cool ones coming up."

She said she was interested in potentially studying environmental science and was passionate about climate change and improving the planet.

She said being a youth councillor has taught her important lessons in communication and teamwork.

"Being a youth councillor has taught me how to be more community-minded, how to work with others and adapt ideas so that we can make as many people happy as possible," she said.

"It has shown me how important communication and teamwork is when you are trying to organise something, especially in times like these.

"A good councillor is someone that is willing to share a contribute. Someone that helps out others when they are organising events."

Natalie signed on for youth council after being recommended by a councillor she worked with on the Rainbow Show.

Beyond youth council, Natalie has been involved with her schools Student Representative Council, and hopes one day to become either a nurse in Navy or a midwife.

She said being a youth councillor taught her the importance of speaking up for herself.

"It's okay to speak up your ideas and not hold them in, it's also taught me how to plan and organise," she said.

"Speak up with your ideas, because if you don't someone else might and you won't get any of the credit."

Antwerp-based Tarah Bond joined youth council alongside a friend, who dropped out last minute.

She plays under-15s netball for the Dimboola Football Netball Club and rows for the Dimboola Rowing Club, the smallest club to compete in the regional regattas.

Tarah said she decided to join youth council to raise her voice and help others.

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"As a councillor, the rest of the youth council and I try to make the community a better place for everyone to go to and be able to have a good time. We make sure that everyone has a say and gets to have their ideas shared," she said.

"Youth council has taught me that there are people who are like me who struggle to speak up, but youth council is here to make it easier and make sure everyone feels heard."

Tarah said she hopes to become either a police officer or lawyer, because she wants to improve safety in rural towns.

Heidi played under-15s netball for the Jeparit Rainbow Storm, and has been involved in volunteer work with her father for the Rainbow CFA brigade.

She said her time as a youth councillor has taught her the value of community involvement.

"I wanted to become a youth councillor as I wanted to be more involved in my community and I found that a lot of others in my community were successful by being a part of the youth council," she said.

"I have learnt more about how much planning it takes to make an event happen and I have evolved my leadership skills.

"A good councillor can be anyone but if you have amazing motivation and good leadership skills you have a good advantage."

Heidi said she was passionate about mental health and wants more discussion around its impacts. She hopes to become a paramedic.

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