Wiradjuri woman, artist and former NSW Youth Advisory Council chair Lua Pellegrini wants other young mob at the table shaping the future ahead of selections for the Council's 2025 members.
The Youth Advisory Council allows 12 young people around the state the chance to sit with ministers and provide young persons' perspectives on the issues which affect them, their communities and their generation for one-year terms.
Applications are currently open to sit on next year's council.
It provides a direct line to the Minister for Youth and the Advocate for Children and Young People.
In 2024, there are two Indigenous members of the council, including current chair and Gamilaroi man, Dylan Farr.
Ms Pellegrini, the 2021-22 chair, said being on the council provides "a meaningful and consistent way to ensure the diverse and varied voices of children and young people including our young people across NSW were heard".
She told National Indigenous Times its "extremely important" First Nations young people are given the opportunity to do the same and have their voices heard.
"I would love for that to be extended into the future as our future is First Nations and it is our young people who are at the forefront of creating that future," she said.
Ms Pellegrini said during her time she and the 2022 Council engaged with then-Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin, and with her fellow Indigenous members advocated for embedded First Nations perspectives to be embedded across the state's school curriculum with the state's Education Department and Education Standards Authority.
Her advocacy led to further opportunities.
"We also engaged with the Ministry of Health and following my term on the Council I was nominated by the Advocate for Children and Young People as the youth representative on the NSW Aboriginal Health Plan Advisory Committee," she said.
NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said "listening to people with lived experiences and amplifying their voices is the best way to lead enduring change" while state Advocate for Children and Young People Zoë Robinson believes youth input creates "better solutions".
On applications opening for the 2025 Council, Mr Farr said "this is a great opportunity for young people to work towards improving the lives of all young individuals in NSW".
