Young people it\u2019s time to raise your voice with \u2018Thinking Out Loud\u2019 Youth Forum returning bigger and better than ever in 2023! Registrations are now open for this exciting and innovative forum which will be hosted by Central Coast Council\u2019s Youth for Youth (Y4Y) Action Team on Wednesday 3 May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year the theme of the forum is \u201cIncluding Us\u201d and Council is calling on young people aged between 12 and 24, businesses, organisations, shopping centre management and event organisers to come together and contribute to important discussions on how to best include, involve, and engage young people in community life, events and initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Unit Manager of Leisure Beach Safety and Community Facilities, Phil Cantillon said the free event is designed to address key concerns young people have identified within the Central Coast community about how they are engaged in community life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA key finding in the Central Coast Youth Strategy 2019 \u2013 2024 identified that young people felt there are limited opportunities where they can access safe and affordable venues to socialise, meet their friends and hang out,\u201d said Mr Cantillon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur youth also said that while there are a great range of programs, events, and activities on the Central Coast they aren\u2019t regular enough or inclusive enough for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis forum is providing the platform for business stakeholders to hear from a unique perspective on how best to engage with and increase participation from young people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want to particularly encourage student representatives from local high schools, TAFE, and universities to come together to utilise this opportunity and ensure that their voices are heard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help ensure the day addresses these key areas the Y4Y action team have broken the day into two parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the forum is a unique opportunity to identify and discuss current issues facing young people and it\u2019s crucial that the region\u2019s schools and businesses participate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis a great opportunity for key business stakeholders to hear directly from young people on ways that they can create a space that is both welcoming and engaging for them,\u201d Mr Hart said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is also a chance for young people to have their voice heard and be a part of positive change that supports all to feel welcome in participating in the wonderful opportunities of community life across the Central Coast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Register now at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au\/ThinkingOutLoud<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Young people it\u2019s time to raise your voice with \u2018Thinking Out Loud\u2019 Youth Forum returning bigger and better than ever in 2023! Registrations are now open for this exciting and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sync_status":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111,109],"tags":[],"series":[170],"class_list":["post-4215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kidz-on-the-coast","category-news-events","series-on-the-coast-families"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/how-to-include-young-people.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/feed\/podcast\/on-the-coast-families","embedCode":"Let\u2019s talk about how to include young people<\/a><\/blockquote>