Agenda of Youth Advisory Committee - Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Youth Advisory Committee

Meeting Date: Tuesday, 18 March, 2025

Location: Jervis Bay Room, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 10.00am

Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.

Agenda

1. Election of Chairperson (every meeting)

2. Meeting Conduct Statement

3. Acknowledgement / Welcome to Country

4. Apologies

5. Confirmation of Minutes

· Youth Advisory Committee - 7 August 2024.......................................... 1

6. Declaration of Interests

7. Presentations

YA25.5......... Update - Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Strategy - Strategy Planning Team

At the Youth Advisory Committee meeting held on 15 May 2024, the Strategy Planning Team advised an update would be provided to the Committee on the updated Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Strategy.

YA25.6......... Presentation - Community Strategic Plan - Feedback

The Community Strategic Plan (CSP) is the community’s plan for the Shoalhaven. It has a minimum 10-year timeframe and should reflect the community’s main priorities and aspirations (needs and wants) for the Shoalhaven.

We are engaging multiple stakeholder groups across the Shoalhaven to understand what they love about the Shoalhaven, what they would like to see less of challenges facing the Shoalhaven and their vision for the Shoalhaven.

Feedback and contributions from the Youth Advisory Committee will help ensure we are capturing key community priorities in the new plan.

YA25.7......... Workshop - Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Under the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, Councils are required to review their Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) every four years. As part of this requirement, Councils must consult with specific groups in the community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with a disability and young people. Council’s advisory committees provide a great opportunity for such consultation in addition to other engagement that is being conducted in the broader community.

8. Reports

YA25.8......... Membership Resignation - Nathaniel Woodcock.................... 4

YA25.9......... Youth Advisory Committee Terms of Reference Review - 2025.......................................................................................... 6

YA25.10....... Update on Actions Report - August 2024.............................. 24

YA25.11....... Update on Actions Report - March 2025............................... 28

9. General Business

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Membership

Voting

Chairperson – Appointed by Committee at each meeting

Nelani Botha - Community Youth Representative

Bradley Martin - Community Youth Representative

Brianna Moroney - Community Youth Representative

Kasey Henshaw - Community Youth Representative

A maximum of eighteen (18) Secondary School Student Representatives

A maximum of five (5) Tertiary Education Student Representatives

Non-Voting

All Councillors

Chief Executive Officer or nominee or Nominee (Manager - Community Connections)

Member for Gilmore – Fiona Phillips MP or nominee Sophie Phillips

Member for Kiama – Gareth Ward MP or nominee Sebastien Riou

Member for South Coast – Liza Butler MP or nominee

Representative - Shoalhaven Local Area Command NSW Police

Representative - Sanctuary Point Youth & Community Centre

Representative - Bay and Basin Community Resources

Representative - Nowra Youth Centre

Representative - Police Citizens Youth Club

Representative - Regional Development Australia

Representative - Shoalhaven Business Chamber

Representative - 330 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets

Representative - Headspace

Representative - University of Wollongong – Shoalhaven

Representative - Country Universities Centre – Shoalhaven

Representative - CareSouth

Representative - Youth Insearch

Quorum – 6 members

Purpose

The purpose of the committee is to represent the interests and views of young people to Council and the Community.

The Committee will also seek to influence Council’s support and intent in achieving their objectives for the current Shoalhaven City Council Community Strategic Plan 2032 (SCC CSP).

Role:

· To represent the interests and views of young people to Council and the Community.

· To provide an opportunity for young people to discuss issues of concern to young people.

· To provide a mechanism for young people to make representations to organisations and various spheres of Government requesting appropriate action to improve facilities and services available to young people.

· To give young people experience in Local Government and community affairs

· To create greater awareness and appreciation within the general community of the needs and talents of young people.

· To provide a mechanism for young people to address youth issues themselves.

Delegations

Advisory Committees may make recommendations to Council on all matters within the role outlined above.

This does not include substantial issues and recommendations (possibly including expenditure) that will be reported to Council by a separate report Manager – Community Connections.

The Committee does not have the power to incur expenditure (directly or indirectly), or the power to bind Council.

Minutes of the Youth Advisory Committee

Meeting Date: Wednesday, 7 August 2024

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 10.30am

The following members were present:

Clr Patricia White

Clr Matthew Norris

Clr Gillian Boyd – Remotely

Clr John Kotlash – Remotely

Eden Sakora – Ulladulla High School

Chloe Jeffers – Ulladulla High School

Lachlan Barry – Ulladulla High School

Georgia Szymoniczek – St Johns High School

Tyne Weller – St Johns High School

Lachlyn Bisat – St Johns High School

Michael Paine - Manager - Community Connections

Others present:

Natalie Johnson – Senior Community Capacity Builder

Monica Kinkade – Senior Community Capacity Builder

Sophie Ray - Shoalhaven Education Fund

At 10.17am Mr Michael Paine – Manager – Community Connections advised the Committee that quorum has not been reached yet however, the members present receive presentations from the schedule as follows until quorum has been confirmed.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Clr Findley, Kasey Henshaw, Janet Atkins and the Shoalhaven River College.

Confirmation of the Minutes

This item was deferred to the next Youth Advisory Committee meeting.

Presentations

YA24.7 Open Discussion - Employment, Education and Homelessness Support

HPERM Ref: D24/269020

At 10.30am those present at the meeting were advised that the Committee had not reached quorum. The members present continued to receive presentations from the schedule as follows.

In the first meeting of 2024 the Youth Advisory Committee identified both:

· Employment and Education Support

· Homelessness and Social Services Support

as priority areas for change that young people want to see action on in the Shoalhaven.

In today’s meeting, YAC members will be receiving presentations from Council and community organisations on these topics.

To begin today’s meeting let’s delve deeper into what these priority areas mean to you.

Please introduce yourself and respond to the following discussion questions:

1. Your name

2. Organisation, School or area of community that you are representing

3. What challenges do you, or young people you know, face in accessing educational opportunities or finding employment in the Shoalhaven, and what changes would you like to see to improve support for young people?

4. How do you think our community could better support young people facing homelessness, and do you have ideas for practical steps we can all take to make a positive impact?

YA24.6 Shoalhaven Education Fund	HPERM Ref: D24/171370
Note: Quorum had not been reached, the Committee heard the following presentation.
Sophie Ray from the Shoalhaven Education Fund presented to the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) on the Fund’s support for Shoalhaven young people in the Shoalhaven. Discussions included their progress since 2012 and from the YAC members on lessons learned about the challenges facing young people in the Shoalhaven in accessing educational opportunities.

YA24.5 Update - Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Strategy - Strategy Planning Team	HPERM Ref: D24/245958
This item has been deferred to the next Youth Advisory Committee meeting.

Reports

YA24.8 Membership Resignation - Nathaniel Woodcock	HPERM Ref: D24/206132
Note: This item was deferred to the next Youth Advisory Committee meeting.

YA24.9 Update on Actions Report - August 2024	HPERM Ref: D24/269359
Note: This item was deferred to the next Youth Advisory Committee meeting.

Eden Sakora and Chloe Jeffers

CHAIRPERSON

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YA25.8 Membership Resignation - Nathaniel Woodcock

HPERM Ref: D24/206132

Department: Business Assurance & Risk

Approver: Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles

Reason for Report

The purpose of this report is to advise the Youth Advisory Committee of the Resignation received from Mr Nathaniel Woodcock and recommend filling the vacancy through the current Expression of Interest advertised.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Accept the resignation of Mr Nathaniel Woodcock (Youth Representative) and thank him for his contribution to the Committee.

2. Fill the Youth Representative vacancy through the current Expression of Interest.

Options

1. Adopt the Recommendation

Implications: Vacant position will be filled.

2. Adopt an alternate recommendation

Implications: Unknown

Background

Council received notification on Thursday, 16 May 2024 from Mr Nathaniel Woodcock that he wished to resign from the Committee. Mr Nathaniel Woodcock was appointed as a Youth Representative in June 2022.

The Youth Representative position to be filled through Council’s current Expression of Interest that is advertised on the Council webpage.

https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Council/Meetings/Council-Committees/Youth-Advisory-Committee

Community Consultations

Council is taking applications for a Youth Representative via an Expression of Interest process. You can find more information on this on the Council webpage:

https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Council/Meetings/Council-Committees/Youth-Advisory-Committee

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YA25.9 Youth Advisory Committee Terms of Reference Review - 2025

HPERM Ref: D25/51663

Department: Cultural & Community Services

Approver: Lindsay Usher, Acting Director - City Development

Attachments: 1. Terms of Reference Draft - January 2025 - Youth Advisory Committee - Track changes ⇩

2. Terms of Reference Draft - January 2025 - Youth Advisory Committee - Changes Accepted ⇩

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide the Youth Advisory Committee with proposed amendments to the Terms of Reference POL24/122 for information and feedback.

Summary and Key Points for Consideration:

Public Council policies including Terms of Reference are to be reviewed every four years within the term of the current Council or when required.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee receive the draft Terms of Reference for information and provide staff with feedback.

Options

1. The recommendation is adopted as written:

Implications: The Terms of Reference (TOR) will be updated in line with the Council’s preferred template for TORs for Section 355 Committees inclusive of any amendments identified as part of the review process.

2. The recommendation is not adopted, and an alternative recommendation is provided.

Implications: The proposed TOR will not be updated, and the YAC will be required to provide an alternative proposal.

Background and Supplementary information

Shoalhaven City Council Section 355 Advisory Committees have been established to provide community with a platform to provide advice on a range of subjects. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is one such committee and is overseen by the City Development directorate. As part of the requirement that Council policies be reviewed every four years within the term of the current Council, this TOR is being reviewed and updated.

Council staff have reviewed and updated the YAC’s TOR; the proposed changes align with updates previously endorsed by Executive Leadership Team (ELT) with additional amendments.

Key changes to the TOR

Summary of the key changes are below:

· 6. Membership

Voting Members:

o A maximum of five Secondary School Student Representatives

o A maximum of five Tertiary Education Student Representatives

o A maximum of five community youth representatives

Chair and Deputy Chair adjusted to:

‘The Chair will comprise of one Councillor (voting member) who will be nominated at the beginning of the meeting of the first sitting of the Youth Advisory Committee for the term of the current Council and in the absence of the nominated Chair a member with voting rights may be elected as interim Chair for that meeting.’

· 7. Committee Meetings - Meeting Schedule: adjusted to:

‘There will be a minimum of one meeting per year. The Chair may call an additional meeting in consultation with the Manager Culture and Community Services or the Director of City Development.’

· 9. Code of Conduct clause to include Councils Code of Meeting Practice statement and states:

‘As per Councils Code of Meeting Practice, speakers addressing the meeting do not have absolute privilege with respect to comments they make, opinions they express or material presented, and need to be aware that they may be held personally liable for defamatory statements or statements contrary to any legal obligations’.

· 11. Sunset Clause has been introduced and states:

‘The committee may be disbanded within one year of the election of a new Council, or earlier at the direction of Council’.

These proposed amendments bring the TOR in line with other Council policies and best practice. The following documents are attached to this report for members to review:

1. Terms of Reference Draft - January 2025 – Youth Advisory Committee - Track Changes

2. Terms of Reference Draft - January 2025 - Youth Advisory Committee - Changes Accepted.

Internal Consultations

The Governance Team have provided guidance on proposed changes to this TOR to ensure consistency with other 355 Committee TORs.

External Consultations

Members of the Youth Advisory Committee will be consulted regarding the proposed amendments to the TOR at the first sitting of the committee.

Community Consultations

Members of the Youth Advisory Committee are community members and as mentioned above, will be consulted at the first meeting of the committee.

Policy and Statutory Implications

The only Council policy relevant for this report is the TOR in question. The YAC will be required to provide alternative amendments should members not agree to the proposed changes.

Financial Implications

There are no funds or resources outside of staff time required to propose TOR amendments for the YAC.

Risk Implications

Council recognises the importance of maintaining good relationships and upholding core organisational values in all interactions with members of our Section 355 Committees. Council will tolerate appropriate and effective interventions to improve the functioning of these Committees.

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YA25.10 Update on Actions Report - August 2024

HPERM Ref: D24/269359

Department: Cultural & Community Services

Approver: Lindsay Usher, Acting Director - City Development

Attachments: 1. Youth Advisory Committee - Action Table - August 2024 ⇩

Reason for Report

The purpose of this report is to provide the Youth Advisory Committee with a progress report on outstanding and completed actions.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Accept and receive the Update on Actions Report for information.

2. The following actions are considered complete and can be removed from the Action Table.

a. YA24.4 Membership Resignation - Adam-John Clear

b. YA23.17 Meeting Times and Days 2024 Discussion

c. YA23.13 Report Received - Update on Actions Report - May 2024

Options

1. Adopt the recommendation as written.

Implications: The Youth Advisory Committee is updated on progress of actions and recommendations made at previous meetings.

2. Request more information.

Implications: Members of the Youth Advisory Committee request further information.

Background

Subject to the Group concurring that satisfactory progress has been made to complete the item on the August 2024 Action Sheet Report, the Group is requested to adopt the Recommendation to note completion of:

a. YA24.4 Membership Resignation - Adam-John Clear

b. YA23.17 Meeting Times and Days 2024 Discussion

c. YA23.13 Report Received - Update on Actions Report - May 2024

Should YAC members require further information on the status of the actions in the table attached, Council staff will provide as requested.

External Consultations

It is important that the members of the Youth Advisory Committee are kept informed on progress towards the completion of actions and projects. This report provides a structured approach to facilitate this information exchange.

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YA25.11 Update on Actions Report - March 2025

HPERM Ref: D25/84324

Department: Cultural & Community Services

Approver: Lindsay Usher, Acting Director - City Development

Attachments: 1. Action Table - March 2025 ⇩

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide the Youth Advisory Committee with a status update on outstanding actions.

Summary and Key Points for Consideration:

This report aims to update the Youth Advisory Committee on the current status of pending actions that are recommended for completion.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Youth Advisory Committee:

1. Accept and receive the Update on Actions Report for information.

2. The following action is considered complete and can be removed from the Action Table.

a. YA24.6 Presentation Received - Shoalhaven Education Fund

Options

1. Adopt the recommendation as written.

Implications: The Youth Advisory Committee is updated on progress of actions and recommendations made at previous meetings.

2. Request more information.

Implications: Members of the Youth Advisory Committee request further information.

Background and Supplementary information

This report is to update the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) on outstanding and completed actions from previous meetings. All actions have been completed. Attachment 1 provides information regarding the status of actions and resolutions made at previous meetings noting there were 3 items deferred from the last meeting to this meeting. The action to defer the report has been completed however, these items will not be removed from the action table until this meeting has been held, the items are resolved by the Committee and staff have taken any necessary action.

Subject to the Committee concurring that satisfactory progress has been made to complete the items on the August 2024 Action Sheet Report, the Group is requested to adopt the Recommendation to note completion of:

b. YA24.6 Presentation Received - Shoalhaven Education Fund

Staff can provide an update at the meeting, should members have any further questions on the completion of actions.

Internal Consultations

External Consultations

Members of the Youth Advisory Committee will be informed about the progress of any future outstanding actions at the next sitting of the committee.

Community Consultations

This report relates to actions that arose from previous Youth Advisory Committee meetings and that are the responsibility of staff to complete. As such, no community consultation was required.

Policy and Statutory Implications

There are no changes required to any Council policy as a result of the production of this report.

Financial Implications

There is no budget associated with the Youth Advisory Committee so there are no financial implications.

Risk Implications