Gladstone Region Youth Council
Gladstone Region Youth Council profiles
Schedule of meetings
Minutes of meetings
The Gladstone Region Youth Council acts as a formal advisory committee to Council on youth-related matters within the region.
Youth Council members range from 15 to 24 years old, with some still attending school. Because of this, the Gladstone Region Youth Council's annual term aligns with the Queensland school year.
Youth Council members meet on the first and third Monday of the month, excluding public and school holidays. Members serve an initial one-year term and can seek re-appointment for a subsequent term.
Gladstone Region Youth Council 2024 - 2025 Action Plan
Engaging with the Youth Council
External organisations can consult with Youth Council members and gain feedback on youth-related topics that could provide capacity-building opportunities within their organisation and the community.
Lodge a formal request with briefing notes if a person or organisation wishes to consult the Youth Council. Officers will assess the relevance and appropriateness of the request in consultation with the Youth Council and decide whether the request is granted or refused.
See Also
Youth Services
Youth Summit
Youth Council 2024 - 2025 Action Plan
2024 Gladstone Region Youth Council members
Rosharne Cakau
Gladstone Region Youth Council Chairperson
Rosharne is a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander Woman. She actively engages in community events, driven by her love for her culture. Rosharne finds fulfillment in teaching others about her heritage and showcasing it through dance.
As a former student council president, she graduated in 2021 with a desire to extend her leadership role. This aspiration led her to seek involvement in the Gladstone Regional Youth Council.
Joining the council not only promises to broaden her understanding of the community but also to enhance her leadership and teamwork abilities.
Rosharne is dedicated to making Gladstone a better place for young people, aiming to inspire her peers to actively participate in community affairs.
Holly
Gladstone Region Youth Council Deputy-Chairperson
Holly has been recognized for her work in suicide prevention awareness and was a finalist in the Young Achiever Awards for her Advocacy in Youth Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Program, Leslee’s Sunflower.
Joining the Gladstone Youth Council, she aims to enhance her advocacy and leadership skills, continue raising awareness, and put plans into action to make a difference in her community and beyond. She believes that increasing education and resources in schools on mental health and accessibility to help for young people would have a positive impact. Additionally,
Holly advocates for more education on topics such as criminal activity, youth crime, drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure to better inform the region's youth about the risks involved and why it's important to avoid such behaviors. Holly is eager to contribute to social media content creation for the Gladstone Youth Council and further develop her public speaking skills.
Ava Hetherington
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Ava is currently in the Year 11 and is a dedicated student at Toolooa State High School. Her commitment to community service is evident through her active participation in the Toolooa State High School Senior Leadership Team and Interact Club, where she engages in volunteer work and fundraising initiatives for various charities and organisations. Additionally, Ava is a member of the Toolooa State High School Dance Troupe, contributing to a team that competes and shares their passion for dance.
Her community involvement extends to the Gladstone Gymnastics Club, where she has diligently trained as a gymnast for the past 15 years. In a coaching capacity, Ava is an accredited coach and judge and loves inspiring younger gymnasts, fostering a love for the sport. Ava wanted to join the Gladstone Youth Council for the amazing opportunities and to be an active youth citizen in her community. She is very passionate about the environment and volunteering within the Gladstone Region. She is excited for the opportunities ahead being a part of the Gladstone Youth Council.
Jakob Humphries
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Jakob has resided in the Gladstone region as a born and bred local and graduated from Chanel College in 2018. He is passionate about law, psychology, and activism in the fight against bullying.
Jakob works at Gladstone Regional Council as an Executive Assistant for Community Development and Events, but he started his career with Council as a trainee in 2019. He is also a Youth Representative on the Philip Street Precinct Advisory Committee.
Jakob joined the Youth Council to drive change for young people, promoting inclusivity and celebrating what makes an individual unique. In addition to actioning the deliverables identified from the 2022 Youth Summit, he has big goals to unite young people across the region.
Jiexi Zang
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Jiexi is a senior at Toolooa State High School and serves as the school captain.
She's studying to attend university for dentistry or pharmacy.
This is her third year on the youth council, and she's excited to work with new members and deliver the Youth Action Plan.
Jiexi wants to encourage young people to get involved in their communities and make a difference.
She's looking forward to seeing what this year's youth councilors will do to make the Gladstone Region better for young people.
Kyle Weekes
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Kyle, also known as Weekesy, is a proud local.
Currently employed as a theatre technician at the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre, Kyle enjoys contributing to various community events. Additionally, he hosts the weekend radio show "Weekends With Weekesy" on 4CC, reaching audiences across Central Queensland.
Kyle's passion for the talented youth in Gladstone drove him to join the 2024 Youth Council. Witnessing the remarkable performances of local students at GECC, he was inspired to advocate for youth support and recognition.
Kyle believes in empowering young individuals to pursue their dreams and aims to strengthen their voices within the community.
Kyle looks forward to exploring ways to enhance the region's already vibrant atmosphere.
Lochie Cathcart
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Lochie, a 21-year-old resident of Gladstone, has been deeply rooted in the community for 18 years.
He dedicates his days to his role as a transport and logistics officer at BSL while pursuing a Bachelor of IT at CQU. Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, Lochie is a prominent figure in the scouting movement and holds a deep passion for the environment.
He enjoys adventuring beneath the surfacing by scuba diving off our stunning Central East Coast and in his spare time dabbles in experimenting with electronics.
One of Lochie's greatest joys is encouraging and supporting young individuals, aspiring to witness a more active involvement of youth within the community.
Logan Althaus
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Logan is a year 11 student at Tannum Sands State High School. He is currently a member of STARS which is a component of the Student Council at Tannum High. He has lived in Boyne Island his entire life. He is currently working towards achieving an ATAR that will allow him to explore his passions for Politics and History.
Logan has joined the Gladstone Regional Youth Council because as a young person living in the Gladstone Region, he sees areas that need improvement. He sees this as an avenue to express his thoughts and opinions and to start to implement positive change to improve outcomes for our region.
He looks forward to gaining experience and building connections within the Gladstone Regional Council. Logan is very passionate about continuing and developing the livability and sustainability of our region. He also believes that accountability and transparency in government is paramount. Logan hopes to use his ideas and passions to help improve the Gladstone Region moving forward.
Matt Torres
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Matt is a year 12 student at Toolooa State High School. Originally from the Philippines, he has called Gladstone home since the age of 7.
Matt has joined the Gladstone Youth Council because he’s passionate about initiatives driven by youth, particularly in areas like mental health awareness, the environment, and the region’s future.
As an ATAR student, he aspires to pursue a career in the health sector and eventually return to Gladstone as a doctor.
Matt’s goal is to inspire other young people in Gladstone to consider careers in health and contribute to our community whether that be through education, delivery programs or volunteering.
Naomi Jon Redshaw
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
Naomi is a Gladstone-born artist and graphic designer, drawing inspiration from her surroundings.
This has led her to focus on creating connections for others, particularly in the realms of mental health awareness and climate change, through her artistic practice. Whether through personal artworks, marketing campaigns for Australian small businesses, or teaching art programs both online and in-person,
Naomi is dedicated to fostering these connections. Outside of work, she can often be found at the town pool, attending local events, or at her art desk, engaged in painting.
Naomi hopes to continue and expand her efforts in bringing the youth of Gladstone together through diverse community-led programs.
Shriyanshi Sharma
Gladstone Region Youth Council member
In recent years, Shriya has stepped out of her comfort zone, expanding her knowledge and learning new life skills.
With a passion for new experiences Shriya welcomed the opportunity to join the Gladstone Youth Council, drawn by the chance to contribute to community improvement initiatives like Clean Up Australia Day and Seniors Month.
Outside of her commitments, Shriya actively participates in event organization and volunteers at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum.
She looks forward to sharing her ideas with fellow community members to drive positive change.
Shriya strongly advocates for better guidance counselling services in local schools, believing it would greatly benefit Gladstone's youth by providing access to professional support. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of the environment, suggesting initiatives such as beach and park clean-ups and tree-planting fundraisers to maintain a cleaner environment.
Schedule of meetings
Meetings of Gladstone Regional Youth Council for 2024:
