You Are Here : Home / Community/ Youth / Youth Advisory Group (YAG) / YAG members

YAG members

Razz, Zie/Zir, 23 — Razz, Zie/Zir, 23. My name is Razz and I use Zie/Zir pronouns. I study comedy and I am passionate about young people, accessibility and change. I want to make a difference in my community and show people that they can achieve anything they put their minds too. They have rights and they have the opportunity to succeed.

Charley She/her, 22 — Charley She/her, 22. I've lived, worked and gone to school in the Yarra Valley my whole. I could never tire of Warburton, Healesville, and Silvan, but honestly it's hard to find a place in the Yarra Ranges that isn't beautiful. I'm very passionate about environmental and social justice issue and am currently studying a Bachelor of Laws. I believe in the resilience and kindness of young people and want to empower those who feel like their voices aren’t heard. Programs such as YAG are a testament to the capabilities of young people – we care about climate, feminism, gender diversity and inclusion! Outside of the YAG, you can find me playing basketball or footy, hanging with my cat Misty and my chickens, or travelling.

Charlotte, She/her, 17 — Charlotte, She/her, 17. I've lived in Millgrove, at the foot of Mt Donna Buang. My favourite thing about my area are the green spaces. I find a lot of comfort and feel very happy when I'm surrounded by nature, so I'm very passionate about the environment. I’ve experiences of being excluded from opportunities has influenced my desired to make positive change, advocate for inclusivity and youth voice. I am a creative person, both in art and problem solving. I love sharing with people, and can't wait to see what changes YAG can all make for the better.

Tyrell, any pronouns, 16 — Tyrell, any pronouns, 16. I'm generally quite an enthusiastic person – I like going on adventures whether that be wandering through the woods, the big city, or interesting buildings. I like reading book of all kinds, topics can include cooking, medicine and spirituality. When not in the city, wandering around and living in the moment, I like to spend a lot of my time in Belgrave. To me, it's a space that I can escape: I can fall into the beauty of streets, get lost in the words, and just breathe.

Kayla, She/her, 14 — Kayla, She/her, 14. I moved from Kilsyth to Mount Evelyn in 2016 with my family of six, and we have lived in that same house ever since. While I study outside of the Yarra Ranges, I still feel connected to the area through my participation in sport and community events. I currently play football for Mount Evelyn and I have been since last year. I'm a very analytical person - I always choose maths over English because numbers come very naturally to me. I currently work at a florist and I really enjoy the environment. I am hoping to get more involved with the Yarra Ranges community and am excited to get to know everyone else in the Youth Advisory Group.

Dean, He/Him, 24 — Dean, He/Him, 24. I am both excited and curious to see what we can achieve together in YAG. I enjoy creativity and creating, whether it's writing, drawing or painting, and love playing guitar, piano and saxophone. I believe we can find creativity in anything – it fuels innovation and new ideas. I also enjoy sport, including volleyball, footy, and karate. The top two issues I would love to try and tackle with YAG is fostering inclusive creative spaces in the community, and environmental action and care.

Thomas, He/Him, 17 — Thomas, He/Him, 17. I've lived in the Yarra Ranges area my whole life and love our local area. I'm passionate about public transport, geography, politics, gardening. I volunteer at the Yarra Valley Railway and enjoy train photography – I have even had some photos published in railway magazines! I hope to become a teacher when I am older, but really, I would love to be a Local Councillor one day!

Matt, He/Him, 20 — Matt, He/Him, 20. I grew up studying, working and playing sport in the Yarra Ranges. I currently play football for Lilydale and work across a range of pool and recreation centres in the area. I am also studying a Bachelor of Sports Business and have recently been working in the Molecular Department, helping to do everyone’s COVID testing!

Damien, He/Him, 25 — Damien, He/Him, 25. I have lived, worked and studied in the Yarra Ranges for the last 15 years. In this time, I have come to truly appreciate my physical, spiritual and mental connection to the land and community. I have been inspired by the kind and open people who live in the Hills and their approach to life. They have inspired me to become more involved in the community and local youth services. I want to advocate for those who go unnoticed, and help implement ideas and programs to benefit everyone who needs them.

Kyra, She/her, 13 — Kyra, She/her, 13. My family have lived in the Yarra Valley for 6 years now. While I mostly hang out around Warburton and Yarra junction, I love to exploring further out. One of my strong suits is English, as I've always loved reading and writing from a young age. I'm a very passionate person about nature, history and music, as I find these topics to be the most exhilarating. I'm excited to get involved in the YAG and see what difference we can make!

Zoe, She/they, 21 — Zoe, She/they, 21. I'm a tattoo apprentice and artist and I live and breathe creativity. I have lived experience with mental illness, and identify as being neurodivergent and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m passionate about advocacy and building a better community, particularly about having safe spaces for art therapies, mental healthcare access and all LGBTQIA+ persons. In the past I have done work on murals, exhibitions and curation of community programs. I feel these experiences have equipped me to make a difference in a group like this. My goal as a member of this group is to be a safe person for others to express their ideas with. I strive to always listen and support the people around me.

Fionn, He/him, 16 — Fionn, He/him, 16. I've lived in the area for ten years. I love the forests in the Dandenong Ranges and the bustling life that surround the trees. The Yarra Ranges have shaped who I am, the issues I care about and how I face them. I'm interested in climate change, public transport, equality and inclusion - these are issues that surround and affect me. I play almost all sports, but particularly love basketball. In my free time, I also turn to art, maths and science. I'm really looking forward for what this YAG will bring for this coming year and look forward to getting a wider view on the issues I'm concerned about.

Jess, She/her, 21 — Jess, She/her, 21. My family has lived in the Yarra Rangers since the early 1910’s and we still live on the same land today, with most of it dedicated to nature conservation. From the rain in the winter to the sun in the summer, this is my happy place. I study and work in different parts of the Yarra Ranges and love experiencing the diversity of this land. My empathy and kindness has made it easy to decide my future career. I have a passion for people and love engaging in their stories, and sharing my own. I also love reading and fashion. I'm excited to be a part of YAG and to see what difference my voice can make.

Candice, She/her, 23 — Candice, She/her, 23. There's no place I love more than quiet pockets in the Yarra Valley and I spend a lot of my time in Warburton and Powelltown. I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Botany (plant science). Green spaces bring me comfort and immeasurable joy, and I think that our stories in nature are an important part of all of us. I'm passionate about sustainability, intersectional environmentalism and feminism, permaculture, and mental health advocacy. I consider myself a lover of learning with an excitedly open mind. I'm excited to be part of a group that celebrates young voices, giving us a platform to tangibly advocate for positive change.

Back to top