Youth Committee
YOUTH COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT 2025 - Apply Now!
What is the Committee for the Hunter?
The Committee for the Hunter is an independent and inclusive champion for the people of the Greater Hunter and their enterprises. We represent over 70 organisations including the largest employees and institutions in the region. Our members are from industry, business, unions, the community sector and all three levels of government. We come together with a shared interest in building a sustainable and prosperous future for our region. The Committee delivers through advocacy, thought leadership and providing a platform for collaborative action.
Why a Youth Committee for the Hunter?
The Youth Committee for the Hunter is an advocacy body for people aged 18–35 living in the Hunter. Up to 13 young people are represented on the Youth Committee, drawn from the ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) that make up the Greater Hunter region, and representing a diverse range of communities and interests.
The Youth Committee was established to deliver on the Committee for the Hunter’s (the Committee) commitment to the Youth Employment Charter, a COVID initiative.
In accordance with the Charter, the Committee pledged to maintain and expand opportunities for young people in the region in five areas around employment, professional development, consultation, mentoring and celebrating the important role of young people in the Hunter economy. The Youth Committee has since established itself as a valuable and enduring mechanism for engagement with young people in the Greater Hunter and advocacy on the issues important to them, including advice to government.
Young people are the region’s most valuable resource. We want to ensure their voices are listened to and that leaders are focused on the issues that matter to them.
The Youth Committee is increasingly the go-to for advice on significant youth matters in the region.
What does the Youth Committee do?
The Youth Committee discusses, agrees and makes recommendations to the Committee CEO and Board on priorities for young people in the Hunter region and the advocacy the Committee can take on these areas.
It provides an essential conduit for advice between young people, their issues and priorities and the Committee Board, CEO, members and stakeholders including governments.
This advice is not tokenistic. A member of the Youth Committee is appointed as Director to the Committee for the Hunter Board, ensuring a strong role for young people in Company decision-making and opportunities for professional development. Our Board is committed to empowering young people to become the leaders our region needs.
The Youth Committee run and publish a Youth Voice Hunter survey every two years, and collaborate on evidence-based advocacy reports like the Going Places report which was launched with the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads.
Youth Committee members have, with coaching and support, also taken up media opportunities to promote their work and support public discussion and debate on the issues facing young people in the Hunter.
Selection Criteria
We are seeking young people across the Hunter region to apply for membership of the Youth Committee who:
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Have an awareness of the issues facing young people in the Hunter region and are motivated to do something about it
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Can commit to the time required make an effective contribution to the Youth Committee – meetings and project work
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Value collaboration and teamwork
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Are interested in personal development and learning, including how to prioritise initiatives across diverse stakeholders, put forward and win support for proposals, project management, research and report writing, corporate governance, and media skills
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May bring a special skill or creative attribute that will help the Committee in its work
Have strong communication and engagement skills, including a willingness to consult with peers across the Hunter and to promote the work of the Committee.
Sounds great, how do I apply?
Applications for Youth Committee 2025 membership are now open to youth who meet eligibility requirements:
- Aged 18 to 35
- Currently reside in one of the ten LGA/Councils (Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter, MidCoast, Dungog) that make up the Greater Hunter.
To apply, please fill in, download and submit the web Application Form below via email to info@hunter.org.au along with the required supportive materials by Monday 28 April 2025.
Your application must include:
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The completed Application form, including a 600 word statement addressing the Selection Criteria in support of your application
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Your Resume or CV
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Two professional or personal referees
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A commitment to the time and effort required to make strong contributions to the Youth Committee and are prepared to do their fair share of teamwork.
If you are considering applying and would like more information on the Youth Committee to inform your decision, please contact the Committee team via info@hunter.org.au.
Going Places - Transport and Accessibility for young people in the Hunter
Key Themes of the Report:
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Transport Links Us to Places, Opportunities, and One Another: Transport determines where we live, learn, work, and socialise. For young people in the Hunter, it is a key determinant of life outcomes.
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Safe, Reliable, Accessible, and Frequent Public Transport: Far from being a matter of convenience, access to public transport enables young people to learn, work, play, and thrive in their home region.
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Geographical and Experiential Diversity: The Hunter’s diverse geography, from the Barrington hinterland to Newcastle’s sprawling suburbs, mirrors the diverse experiences and needs of our young residents.
We are pleased to share the results of this report with government, regional leaders, stakeholders and communities to help give young people a louder voice and a bigger role in shaping the Hunter’s future.
YOUTH VOICE SURVEY 2022
Youth Voice Hunter 2022 is the result of a region-wide survey to better understand the aspirations, perspectives and ideas of young people.
The survey was open to young people aged 15-30 living in the ten local government areas of the Greater Hunter.
We are pleased to share the results with government, regional leaders, stakeholders and communities to help give young people a louder voice and a bigger role in shaping the Hunter’s future.
The survey will be run every two years, providing a valuable resource for decision-makers and fellow advocates for the young people of the Hunter.
Why a youth voice matters
Young people – their ideas, ingenuity and enterprise – are the region’s most valuable resource in the new economy. It will be the young people of the Hunter who will reap the long-term benefits or consequences of decisions made today. And they are a growing force in our society. People aged 15 – 29 make up 18 per cent of the population in the Greater Hunter. With over 100,000 young people voting in the 2022 election, the influence of Hunter youth in politics will continue to increase over the next decade.
Help give the young people of the Hunter a louder voice
We can be proud of the impact of the Youth Committee in the short time they have been operating on minimal resources.
‘Imagine what the Youth Committee can achieve for the region and our young leaders of tomorrow with more support and resources.’
We are seeking partners who can help achieve the full potential of the Youth Committee, by providing annual sponsorship. There are a range of options to explore aligned to your organisation’s values, priorities and budgets.
Now is the time to get behind the young people of the Hunter, help raise awareness of the issues that matter and get their priorities to the centre of decisions.
