Young Mayors Hepburn

A Youth Advisory Group of young people aged 11-17 in Hepburn, run in partnership with Hepburn Shire Council. 

This program did not proceed to election.

What happened

In 2024, FYA partnered with Hepburn Shire Council to explore launching the Young Mayors program in the region.

Due to other priorities arising for the community and Council, the decision was made to pause the work before reaching the election stage. In its place a Youth Advisory Group was formed with young people aged 11-17 for a term of six months, from July – December 2024.

The Youth Advisory group

A Youth Advisory Group (YAG) consisting of five young people from the Hepburn Shire area was formed in 2024, for a term of six months with membership offered to young people who had expressed interest in the Youth Council process. 

The YAGs focus area was to support the Shire’s youth services team in understanding youth participation in the area. The YAG met 13 times during their term. Over this time the YAG:

  • Explored systems mapping and young people’s place in Hepburn
  • Heard about First Nations governance through the Shire’s Reconciliation Action Plan
  • Conducted surveys to understand the hopes and dreams of young people in Hepburn
  • Designed and ran an youth activation event in Daylesford 
  • Designed a summer Pool Party activation event, held in partnership with Hepburn Shire the following year

In the media

The Local, “New group to tackle youth challenges in Hepburn” — includes news of Hepburn Youth Advisory Group formed to share insights on issues affecting young people in Hepburn

See more media coverage on the Young Mayors Program here.

Stay connected

If you’re a young person in Hepburn interested in civic leadership, get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

Acknowledgement

The Foundation for Young Australians respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Hepburn Young Mayors runs, the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to the young emerging leaders. This always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.