Council is proud to welcome the incoming 2026 Youth for Youth (Y4Y) Leadership Team, while also celebrating the outstanding achievements of the graduating 2025 team who have made a lasting impact on young people across the Central Coast.
The Y4Y Leadership Team is a youth leadership program that brings together young people aged 15 to 24 who care about local community challenges and want to work collaboratively to create positive change, while gaining valuable leadership experience and skills. Through the program, young people are encouraged to step up, advocate for their peers and contribute valuable insights to Council initiatives from a young person’s perspective.
Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the Youth for Youth Program puts our young people at the centre of shaping local initiatives and championing ideas that matter to them.
“I have met the 2026 Youth for Youth Leadership Team and their enthusiasm is contagious. They’re a passionate and diverse group of 24 young leaders who are ready to build on the great work that’s already been done, while bringing fresh ideas and energy of their own,” Mayor McKinna said.
“I also congratulate the 2025 Youth for Youth Leadership Team on an outstanding year of achievements and thank them for the commitment and drive they’ve shown in making a real difference for young people across our community, while helping to deliver on the actions from our Youth Strategy.”
Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said the Y4Y team continue to inspire each year, bringing fresh energy, ideas and valuable insights.
“Through creativity, leadership and a strong passion for driving change, the 2025 team transformed ideas into meaningful action, demonstrating that young leaders don’t just talk about making a difference, they make it happen,” Ms Smith said.
“Over the past year, the 2025 team hosted the 2025 Youth Week Awards, planned and delivered the Thinking Out Loud Youth Forum, launched the Youth for You podcast series, helped deliver Youth Day Out community days and other youth-focused events across the Central Coast.
“The new 2026 team has jumped into their journey with enthusiasm, and I look forward to seeing the ideas they bring to life and the positive impact they’ll have for young people on the Coast.”
The 2026 Youth for Youth Leadership Team members are:
1. Amber Sharpe
2. Andrew Hodgins
3. Aysha Berrada
4. Basil Bradshaw
5. Cameron Bullocant
6. Carmela Nocedo
7. Ella Stewart
8. Ellie Davis
9. Emeliana Kimber
10. Ha Mi Nguyen
11. Hannah Clack
12. Isabella Ridgeway
13. Jacob Gombe
14. Jade Brown
15. Jade Subritzky
16. Layla Magin
17. Lewis Pankhurst
18. Matilda Tomkins
19. Miel Mejorada
20. Mumar
21. Nhat Nguyen
22. Richard Choi
23. Ruby Davis
24. Sairsha Jagger
Upcoming Council youth activities to become involved in:
- Nominate an incredible young person for the Youth Week Awards – closes 20 March. Search ’youth week awards’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
- Volunteer to help run or simply come along to the 28 March Coast Swap, clothes swap event at Gosford Regional Library from 11am to 1pm. Search ‘coast swap’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
- Youth Week program of events runs 16-25 April – sign up to Council’s eNews at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/enews to be notified of the program calendar launch and many more youth events to come. View events closer to the time at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on