Youth Steering Committee

Azuki is a passionate young leader from South Australia whose advocacy is deeply rooted in her values and lived experience. 
Azuki finds joy and inspiration in nature, literature, music, and arts.

Growing up on a remote island, Azuki developed a unique understanding of the challenges faced by young people in isolated communities.

This perspective motivated her to join the Youth Steering Committee, where she brings not only her voice but also the stories and insights of her community.

She hopes to help shape policies and programs that reflect the diverse realities of young Australians, and to ensure that every young person feels seen, heard, and valued.

Caleb is a young person from Lismore, a regional disaster-affected community in Northern NSW.

He is passionate about climate change, youth voices being heard and increasing opportunities for regional youth. 

Caleb plays soccer with an Academy and loves watching sport. His other interests include reading, bodyboarding, hiking and hanging out with mates.

Caleb joined the Youth Steering Committee to represent young people of the Northern Rivers and the opportunity to help young people and the government to work together.

The Northern Rivers region is still recovering from the devastating floods of 2022, which have impacted the whole community, especially young people. Caleb’s community is living with the impacts of climate change, and government policy has a real impact on us today and our future.

Charlotte is an undergraduate student at the Australian National University. She is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours), majoring in astronomy and astrophysics. Charlotte hopes to later get her Masters in Primary Education to help future generations flourish.

Despite living in the landlocked capital, Charlotte loves visiting creeks, waterfalls and going to the beach. When she is not studying, she often spends time with friends and travelling around Australia.

Charlotte joined the committee as a way of paying her successes forward, to help inspire and empower other young people. She is passionate about being a voice for other First Nations people and disabled youth. Charlotte is excited to work alongside the other committee members to shape a stronger voice in parliament for Australia’s youth.

Donella is a proud Larrika young woman from the Northern Territory. She has recently finished her Diploma in Business and is now studying a Diploma in Leadership and Management. Her interests include health and fitness, spending time with her family, and listening to podcasts.

Donella highlights the importance of empowering our youth as they are the future leaders and decision-makers of our country. She is honoured to be a part of the Youth Steering Committee to contribute to the Youth Engagement Model and to help the Australian Government implement policies and programs that achieve impactful change for young people and for future generations to come.

Issy is a proud Aboriginal teen living in rural Queensland. She is deeply committed to driving social change through public policy and ensuring inclusive participation in the decision-making process.

Her involvement with the Youth Steering Committee reflects her desire to share her lived experiences and to engage with the diverse voices of other young people. She hopes the Engage! strategy will be a cornerstone initiative to introduce the young people of Australia into the world of politics.

In recognition for her contributions, Issy was named the 2025 Junior Citizen of the Year for the Southern Downs region. Since then, she has collaborated with the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition as a Congress Champion. Issy has earned the Queens Guide Award and has served as the 29th member for the Southern Downs in Queensland Youth Parliament.

Aside from her work in public policy, Issy loves listening to music and unwinding with a good book!

Izabella lives in Karratha, Western Australia, and is a final year university student studying a double degree in Government & International Relations and Criminology & Criminal Justice.

Izabella hopes to later complete a Masters in Neuroscience and Criminology so that she can help victims of crime. Izabella has a passion for social justice and human rights and joined the Youth Steering Committee to advocate for young victims of domestic and family violence, and promote healthy relationship education for young people. 

Living in a regional area for the past 8 years has highlighted the significant divide between services available in regional areas compared to metro.

Izabella hopes to be able to amplify the voices of young people in rural and remote places and is honoured to be a part of shaping future change for Australian youth.

Jaida is a proud Ghanaian Australian from Sydney with a strong passion for social justice, human rights, and equality. She is currently an undergraduate student focused on the disciplines of politics and law.

Jaida has hands-on experience working with children in the community and is deeply committed to advocating for inclusive education and equal opportunities, particularly for young people from immigrant backgrounds, the African diaspora, and those with disabilities.

She joined the Youth Steering Committee to bring a voice that has long been underrepresented in national policy spaces. Jaida is especially focused on challenging racism and discrimination in all its forms and believes in the power of lived experience to inform real, lasting change.

Her work is driven by values of fairness, representation, and care, and she hopes to help shape systems that are more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all young Australians.

Jet is a young person from the North-West Coast of Tasmania, who is passionate about social justice, the arts, and supporting diversity.

He hopes to bring about change for young people, particularly those in rural and regional areas through representation, and encouraging young people to use their own voices.

As a proud member of the queer community, they hope to contribute to diversity in youth engagement spaces by helping to build a safe, collaborative environment.

Jet joined the committee because he is passionate about ensuring that youth are empowered to engage with governments and organisations in their decision-making, with a particular focus on how this will deliver real, meaningful change.

Joel is a young Territorian and change maker with lived experience of migration, food insecurity and community resilience.

After moving from Uganda with his family in 2013, Joel has proudly called Darwin home. He has since immersed himself in learning, growing and contributing to Northern Territory youth advocacy, social media and community-led projects.

He has worked with the Northern Territory Youth Round Table, Multicultural Youth Northern Territory, LAUNCH Darwin and other organisations to elevate and empower the voices of young people. Joel’s hobbies include, bike riding, walking, spending time with family and friends, listening to music and driving around Darwin and surrounds.

He joins the Youth Steering Committee to elevate the voices of young people, especially those from multicultural, regional and disadvantaged background.

Through his involvement, Joel hopes to ensure that decisions affecting young people reflect their lived experience, aspirations and hopes for a more inclusive future.

Max is a high schooler from Brisbane whose experience with youth engagement motivated him to join the Youth Steering Committee.

A debate enthusiast and member of the Queensland Youth Parliament, he hopes that his prior experience with public speaking, policymaking and youth engagement will allow him to meaningfully contribute to the committee’s dialogue on the Engage! strategy.

He finds it particularly crucial to help establish opportunities using Engage! for young people to voice their opinions in the mainstream media.

He also hopes to work towards ensuring youth engagement strategies consult young people from a range of backgrounds.

Nathaniel is a young person from regional South Australia, currently in year nine at high school.

He is highly passionate about improving life for all people regardless of any diversity, including geographic, cultural, disability or social status.

Nathaniel joined the Youth Steering Committee to ensure that the voice of the minority can be heard in all levels of governance. He hopes to improve the government’s understanding of regional youth and what they want for their futures.

Nathaniel is passionate about science, especially astronomy, and exploring how space's endless possibilities can help advance humanity.

Nathaniel also enjoys Dungeons &Dragons and is passionate about bringing further youth activities to regions where there are currently limited opportunities.

Rachel is a Youth Award winner, Projects Coordinator and Youth Advocate, dedicated to enhancing youth engagement and opportunities in regional and rural communities.

As a Youth Advisor for the National Youth Employment Body, Rachel brings invaluable insights and experience in youth advocacy and project management. She leads initiatives multiple projects and program across the southwest region.

Rachel is strategic, resilient and passionate in her endeavour to promote and advocate for the voices of young people, ensuring their perspectives shape impactful policies and programs nationwide.

Ruben was born in Melbourne but has lived in Perth, Western Australia for the past 5 years.

Ruben shines as a middle school leader, speaking confidently in front of his peers with his open and honest communication style. He shows his true self while engaging in his community, encouraging others to have the confidence to share their own stories and have their voices heard.

His lived experience with severe tic disorder has given him resilience, compassion, and empathy.

Ruben is looking forward to connecting with people from different backgrounds and having a fun time making a difference to the youth of Australia.

Tracey is proud young Aboriginal woman with a passion for human rights and gender equality, and for those who can’t speak for themselves to have a voice.

Tracey’s interests include singing and reading fiction books. Tracey joined the Youth Steering Committee to represent foster children like herself, to gain their own voice to make their own decisions.

Tracey also pushes herself to gain her own voice to speak on behalf of foster children like herself, by expressing her thoughts and opinions to create a safer environment for all foster children. She also wants to voice her own experiences in that environment and healthy and unhealthy behaviours in these spaces.

Tracey hopes that by joining the committee, that all foster children will have a voice and the same equal rights as biological children, where their decisions and safety is up to themselves.

Zane is a high school student from Wurundjeri country in Victoria. He has a great passion for politics and public speaking and aspires to complete a law degree after graduation.

Having undertaken work experience with numerous MPs of various political parties, Zane’s participation in the political system stems from his interest in law and civics.

Other hobbies and interests include debating, reading, global issues and religion.

Through his involvement in the Youth Steering Committee, Zane aims to develop his political knowledge and advocacy skills.

As a proud Muslim Australian of Lebanese-Greek descent, he hopes to represent religiously and culturally diverse communities across the nation.