Young Mayors Mackay
A democratically elected council of young people aged 11-17 in the Mackay region.
Getting to know the program
Since 2023, young people from Mackay have elected a 12‑member youth council to represent their voices across the region and collaborate with the community to drive change. The initiative is delivered in partnership with Mackay Regional Council. The youth council is a space to collaborate with other young people, learn skills and create change in your community.
Being a part of the youth council is a way for you to connect with your wider local community, collaborate on issues that affect young people and learn more about ideas and experiences from peers.
1. Nominating for Youth Council
1 June – 20 July 2026
Young people aged 11-17 living in the Mackay Regional Council area are invited to nominate themselves to run for Youth Council in June 2026!
An info pack with everything you need to know to nominate for the Youth Council will be available 1 June 2027. Sign up here to find out when it lands.
2. Campaigning for election
JuLy – August 2026
Candidates will campaign until the election, with access to free campaigning workshops, tutorials and more. Candidates get some money for campaign materials including t-shirts, flyers and more. A Meet the Candidates event will also take place to give candidates the chance to hear from and speak with the wider community.
Mentoring and support is provided throughout and the Young Mayors Mackay Team are here to guide you and all candidates. There is no cost to participate.
3. Election Week
19 – 23 October 2026
The Mackay Youth Council election will be happening 19 – 23 October. Voting booths will be set up in high schools and community spaces across Mackay Regional Council. Young people aged 11-17 are eligible to vote. Check back in mid-2026 to find out about voting locations.
4. Term in office
2026 – 2028
The Mackay Youth Council will serve a 18 month term in office, delivering projects, campaigns and events based on a priority agenda developed together early in their term.
Should you put your hand up to nominate?
Representing young people in the community takes all kinds of skills, perspectives and knowledge. Real change happens when people with different backgrounds, passions, abilities, interests and lived experiences work together.If any of the following apply to you, consider putting your hand up for the Mackay Youth Council:
- You love building on ideas and working with others. This isn’t politics as usual – it’s about coming together to collectively represent young people in Mackay.
- You’re passionate about community. The diverse experiences of young people, the places that shape who we are, what’s working, and what could be better.
- You’re curious about civics and democracy, and eager to explore new ways of decision-making that put young people at the centre.
- You’re keen to challenge yourself and develop new skills in a supportive environment. This is all about learning together, celebrating when we try something new – no matter the outcome – with full support along the way.
Frequently asked questions
- Nominations | 1 June – 20 July 2026 (8 weeks)
- Campaigning period | 17 August – 19 October 2026 (8 weeks)
- Meet the Candidates | w/c 5 October
- Elections | 19 October – 23 October 2026 (1 week)
- Inductions | November 2026 (usually 2 Saturdays)
- Term in Office 1 February 2027 – 30 June 2028 (18 Months)
Check out a locality map here.
Nominations for the Mackay Youth Council are open to young people aged between 11 and 17 years of age living or studying in the Mackay Regional Council area. You do not need to be an Australian citizen to nominate.
Australian citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote in local, state and federal elections, and can nominate to run for election to represent their constituents at all levels (and we encourage you to consider it!)
If you’re over 18 and want to be involved in the Young Mayors program in other ways, get in touch!
The Youth Council will decide their priorities based on issues identified by young people in Mackay.
You can read the current youth council agenda below.
The projects run by youth councils around the world have covered a range of issues, including:
- Campaigns for mental health, LGBTIQ+ equality, poverty reduction, sustainability, safety and tourism
- Youth homelessness support projects
- Lowering the age of travel concessions
- New inclusive council programs for young people with disabilities
- Forums that bring young people together with local, state, and federal decision makers
- New sports competitions, music programs, and art exhibitions
During the Term in Office, the Youth Council will regularly consult with their constituents (other young people) to make sure their work is meeting the needs of young people in the community. Consultation happens in different ways, including surveys, peer-peer conversations, attending local events and hearing from Council staff and community advocates.
There are 12 spots available on the Mackay Youth Council, with seats spread across 2 regions.
The Youth Council meets every 2 weeks at the Jubilee Centre. All youth councillors have the option to join via Zoom if attending in-person isn’t possible. Meetings are 1.5 to 2 hours on a weekday after school (day of the week is confirmed once the young people are elected).
The Mackay Team works with youth councillors to support meaningful involvement throughout their Term in Office. While meeting attendance is important, when life gets busy contributions can also be made via email or catch-ups with the Mackay Young Mayors Team.
As well as fortnightly meetings, Youth Council responsibilities may mean attending other meetings and events, as decided by the youth council throughout the Term in Office.
Youth Councillors will be paid a quarterly stipend of $250 ($1500 across the Term in Office) to recognise that costs might come up as a part of being involved (eg. transport). They are also paid $250 to attend an induction before entering the Term in Office
Food will be provided for meetings with all dietary requirements catered to.
The Youth Council will have opportunities to meet with and provide recommendations to Mackay Regional Council and the Mayor throughout their Term in Office.
Young people running for election will have access to workshops and mentoring to support their campaigns.
Candidates will also be given a budget to spend on campaign marketing materials e.g. t-shirts, posters, printing for their campaigns. To keep it equitable, candidates are not permitted to spend any other money or get in-kind support to advertise in their campaigns. Candidates are encouraged to connect in-person and support each other’s campaigning.
Once elected, the Youth Council will do a thorough induction, have access to a constantly updated resource library, and will be supported by a staff member based in the Council area.
The program is completely free to participate in.
We are committed to this program being a safe, accessible opportunity for all young people.
All candidates will be asked to sign a Code of Conduct when they nominate themselves to run for Youth Council. Read the Code of Conduct here.
Candidates will be given campaign support by FYA, and will not be allowed to use any personal funds or seek donations (cash or in-kind) for their campaigns. We want to make sure all young people, regardless of privilege, are on an equal playing field.
Social media can be used for campaigns as freely available tools for promotion. Candidates will be asked to follow a set of guidelines for social media use during their Campaign period and Term in office, if elected. Candidates can not run cash advertising on social media platforms.
A comprehensive set of child safeguarding policies underpin all of FYA’s work. In addition, a well-being plan tailored to the program in Hume will be in place to ensure young people are using social media safely, with clear avenues for support should any incidents occur.
The election will be held in October 2026. Across the week, voting booths will be set up in high schools across the Mackay Regional Council. Check back early in mid-2026 to find out if your school is involved.
As well as schools, we’re interested in setting up voting booths in community spaces where young people visit, so that all young people aged 11-17 have the opportunity to vote; not just those who go to school. If you want to suggest a space, please get in touch.
Young Mayors is supported by the Electoral Commission of Queensland and voting replicates state and federal government voting systems.
Candidates nominate for 1 of 2 regions to make sure the Youth Council is representative of all parts of the region. Your region is determined by where you feel the most connection, this may be where you live, study or spend your time. Young people aged 11-17 (inclusive) will be eligible to vote in their region for the candidates running for election in that ward.
If you want your vote to count but your school isn’t participating in the program, you don’t go to school or you won’t be at school on the day the ballot boxes are there, don’t worry! There will be other community spaces that you can vote at or you can email [email protected] and we’ll figure out a voting alternative.
No. Elections will be run at schools, but the Young Mayors program is not part of the curriculum.
Youth Council runs outside of school time, but it’s best to let your school know you’ll be getting involved either as a candidate, or as an elected youth councillor. A letter to your school can be provided on request.
On occasion, Youth Councillors may have the chance to get involved in activities that run during school hours, with advanced notice.
The Young Mayors program works with young people aged 11 to 17 years. We recognise this program puts young people in the public spotlight, and this can create vulnerabilities.
A well-being plan tailored to each community is developed at the beginning of the program, based on a thorough co-design process undertaken with each local government area.
The well-being plan includes, but is not limited to specific actions and support available to keep young people safe, processes to report harm, and clarity on expectations young people can have of each other, partners involved and the general public.
FYA and our partners are required to have Working With Children Checks (Blue cards) and adhere to a comprehensive set of safeguarding policies and legislative requirements.
We are working hard to make every part of the program as accessible to as many people as possible. This includes using wheelchair accessible venues, having the option to provide Auslan Interpreters for events, providing single and gender neutral bathrooms, creating social scripts and maintaining COVID safety.
We are committed to supporting all access requirements and welcome suggestions for any access needs not covered here. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments about inclusion and accessibility. .
During the nominations period, we’ll be coming to participating schools and community groups to tell you more about the Young Mayors program and how you can get involved.
In the meantime, if you have a question that hasn’t been answered here, get in touch.
Meet Mackay’s Youth Council!
Elected in August 2024 and serving a 18 month term in office, the Youth Council are delivering projects, campaigns and events based on a priority agenda they will develop together. You can follow them here on Instagram. If you have an issue you’d like the Mackay Youth Council to consider, contact [email protected].
