Youth Advisory Group (YAG)
The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) are a collective of young people with a connection to the Yarra Ranges. They work with Council and within the community to ensure young people's voices are heard.
Our wonderful team members have a vast range of experiences and outlooks. We want to support and advocate for people from all walks of life. This ensures our young community is represented through various interests in projects, policies and planning.
We act in an advisory role, bringing young voices into decision-making spaces. We advocate for and promote positive change in the Yarra Ranges community.
EOIs are open for 2025
Express interest today to join the YAG team in Lilydale!
Complete a YAG application form
Can't get to Lilydale? Don't let that stop you from applying! The Youth Team can help you access the YAG through myki support or rideshare alternatives (like taxis and Uber). Just let us know.
Contact details
Phone: (03) 9294 6716
Email: youth@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Project Lead: Jayde Petrie, Youth Development Officer
Our values
With each new version of the Youth Advisory Group, we create our own values. These values reflect the ideals of each member and iteration of the YAG.
Respect others opinions + different ways of contributing
The YAG consists of many young people who bring different life experiences, ideas, and priorities to the team. We each have our own ways of communicating, and make an effort to be patient and thoughtful. Respecting one another is essential to achieving our goals together.
Show kindness
The YAG prioritises kindness in how we treat one another. We approach our consultations and projects through an empathetic lens.
Inclusivity & Equity
To represent young people, the YAG ensures that inclusivity and equity are a core tenet of all the work we do. This means considering all perspectives in our conversations, and making effort to ensure the team is safe for young people with lived experience of marginalisation. We seek learning opportunities to improve our understanding of inclusion and equity.
Integrity
The YAG want to embed a sense of trust with one another and with the broader community that we act with integrity. We commit to transparency and consistency to fulfil this value.
Past projects and previous Youth Advisory Groups
2021 Youth Advisory Group
The 2021 YAG was a pilot project, running between June and December 2021 – although we had additional meetings in 2022 due to demand for youth voice and consultations across Council!
2022 Youth Advisory Group
The 2022 YAG consulted with the Department of Jobs, Precincts, and Regions (now the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions) on the Lilydale Urban Redesign project. They provided valuable youth-centred insights over the course of several months to ensure young people would see themselves and their vision for the Yarra Ranges in the area.
2023 Youth Advisory Group
The 2023 YAG made considerable efforts to preserve and advocate for the local Lilydale Youth Hub, run by Inspiro. These efforts culminated in a rally that saw over 100 community members speak to the significance of the resource as the Hub faced closure. Whilst the Youth Hub was not re-funded, the connection and spirit displayed in this rally represent the unity of young people in the Yarra Ranges community.
2024 Youth Advisory Group
The 2024 YAG consulted on multiple projects from March through December 2024. Throughout the year, they developed skills in presentation and entrepreneurship, and devoted themselves to the key project of writing an advocacy letter to Council to represent youth voice in the Yarra Ranges.