This year, Becoming U has entered a very exciting partnership with Nambucca Valley Council to support the establishment of the first ever Nambucca Valley Youth Council, a groundbreaking step in embedding youth voice and youth-led governance across the region. This initiative has quickly became Becoming U’s flagship governance structure, shaping and guiding all of our other youth-led projects in the Valley.

In April 2025, young people from Nambucca Heads High School, Macksville High School, Bowraville Central School, and Shore Track gathered for the first workshop, where 45 students articulated a clear vision: a Youth Council that is real, representative, and influential. Since then, the group has met once per month at Council Chambers, working through priorities, structures, community data, and the practicalities of being a formal advisory group.

Youth Council representatives presented to a Nambucca Valley Council General Meeting in August 2025, supported by peers from all four schools and hubs. Councillors voted to formally establish the Youth Council as an official advisory body, giving young people a direct role in shaping local priorities. The group also serves as an advisory mechanism for all Becoming U programs, ensuring integration across arts, sport, wellbeing, employment, leadership, and community connection initiatives.

Drawing on insights from the Youth Speak Report (2024), young people mapped out key themes and established five working groups:

These groups will deliver interconnected projects across 2025–2026 in partnership with local services, businesses, community groups, and council teams. Becoming U facilitators visit each school ‘hub’ fortnightly to work with hub delegates, strengthen capabilities, and progress youth-led planning and decision-making.

As we look toward 2026, the Youth Council will continue expanding its reach. A new recruitment round will open opportunities for more young people across the Valley to get involved—whether as council members, hub leaders, project contributors, or participants in community activities.

The Nambucca Valley Youth Council is growing into a powerful, place-based governance model—one that will shape meaningful, authentic youth-led action for years to come.