Engaging with young people

Chevelle-Rose McCrohon

Chevelle, from Mudgee, Central West NSW, identifies as non-binary and as a First Nations person. Chevelle has been a member of the Mid-Western Regional Youth Council since May 2022 and is most interested in climate change, behaviour change and legislation.

Emily Rose

Emily is from Copacabana, Central Coast. She has been a member of her local surf lifesaving club since 2013, and has been a member of the Junior Lifesaver of the Year Youth Group since February 2022. Emily is most interested in water quality, waste management and behaviour change.

Evan Ademovic

Evan is from Minchinbury, Western Sydney. He is studying Economics at Macquarie University, and has been a member of the Blacktown Council Youth Advisory Committee for 3 years. Evan is most interested in agriculture and grazing, industry and legislation.

Jaleel Albaf

Jaleel is from Young NSW. He is a high school student attending Young High School, and has been a member of the Young High School Leadership Team for 12 months. Jaleel is most interested in forestry, waste management and behaviour change.

Jasmine Cook 

Jasmine, from Falconbridge, Blue Mountains, attends St Columba’s Catholic College, and has been a member of the Blue Mountains Youth Council for 18 months. Jasmine is most interested in climate change, behaviour change and legislation.

Jessica Muir

Jessica is from Dee Why, Northern Sydney. She is a high school student and Vice-Captain attending Mater Maria Catholic College, and has also been a member of the Northern Beaches Youth Advisory Group for 12 months. Jess is most interested in waste management, climate change and behaviour change.

Joshua Fernandez

Joshua attends Corpus Christi College Maroubra, Sydney where he is Vice Captain. Josh has been a part of Coogee Surf Club since 2011, and serves on both the Club and Sydney Branch Youth Advisory Committees. Josh is most interested in water quality and legislation.

Lily-Anne Chapman

Lily-Anne grew up in Broken Hill NSW and now lives in Stanmore, Sydney. She is a university student studying an Environmental Science degree at the University of New South Wales. Lily-Anne is most interested in water quality, biodiversity and climate change.

Lotte Weber

Lotte is from Katoomba, Blue Mountains. She has been a member of the Blue Mountains City Youth Council for four years and is currently studying International Relations at the Australian National University. Lotte is most interested in industry, behaviour change and communication.

Nabilah Chowdhury

Nabilah is from Ashfield, Sydney. She has been involved in various youth councils and groups such as Jane Goodal National Youth Leadership Council, Yatz leader Taronga Zoo, Australian Wildlife Society, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, Junior Chamber International, UNYouth, School strike 4 climate, NSW Young Parliament, Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Nabilah is a Bengali speaker, and is most interested in climate change, air pollution and conservation.

Nicholas Chambers

Nicholas is from Cromer, Northern Sydney. He is studying Environment and Law at Macquarie University, and is a member of the Northern Beaches Council Youth Advisory Group. Nick is most interested in waste management, climate change and legislation.

Tamanna Anand

Tamanna is from Lidcombe, Sydney. She is a high school student attending Santa Sabina College, and has also been a member of the Strathfield Youth Group since the beginning of 2022. Tamanna is most interested in waste management, climate change and air pollution.

Meeting 17 November 2022 

Introductions from NSW EPA Chief Executive Officer Tony Chappel and the Minister for Environment and Heritage, James Griffin

At this second, in-person meeting held at NSW Parliament House, both the CEO and the Minister welcomed the eight Youth Advisory Council members in attendance and reiterated how valued their views are to informing our work in the environment space. Minister Griffin also gave an outline of the workings of State Parliament and invited the members to attend Question Time in the afternoon.

The members had an opportunity to pose questions to the Minister and CEO on environmental protection and policy and these were responded to.

Meeting’s focus

The focus of this meeting was on the EPA’s Climate Change Policy and Plan, Partnerships program and the new EPA Youth Engagement Strategy. The members engaged enthusiastically in workshops on all three topics with some key outcomes as follows:

Climate Change Action Plan
Presenters: Jacquelyn Miles and Michele Weight

Members’ feedback and recommendations included

• The need for accessible communications e.g, social media summaries
• Talks with community before implementing actions
• Working with climate education start-ups to inform the actions
• Ensuring Indigenous perspectives are sought for resource management
• Speaking with all levels of industry particularly for emissions reduction
• Considering sponsored advertising or popular figures to mobilise community to take action
• Ensuring licensees are implementing changes
• Fact sheets for children and programs for schools

Partnerships
Presenters: Felicity Calvert and Mitchell Jones

Members gave feedback on EPA partner ‘Take 3 for the Sea’’s video on single use plastic ban. They suggested expanded messaging to other demographics in Western Sydney and rural regions.

The members also gave feedback and advice on

• The need to promote the EPA brand and its work more – comment “People at my high school don’t know what the EPA does”
• Promotion of EPA programs through schools and universities via posters and talks.
• Return and Earn stations at sports grounds and events
• Collaboration with businesses such as reusable drink bottles, World Surf League
• Partnering with zoos
• Engaging more with existing partner groups like Girl Guides and the Rural Fire Service
• Leverage existing local council youth advisory committees

Draft EPA Youth Engagement Strategy
Presenter: Liesbet Spanjaard

Members worked together in two groups to set their top six priority actions in the strategy for the EPA to work on.

The top six are

1. Actively encourage young people to participate on our Community Consultative Committees and update future Terms of References accordingly. Ensure the committees are accessible for young people.
2. Explore opportunity to host a Youth Leadership Forum bringing high school students across NSW together to discuss key environmental matters of concern.
3. Explore opportunities to provide education on environmental issues to Aboriginal and other culturally and language diverse young people, including on waste and climate change, e.g, through schools or events such as the Koori Knockout, Yabun or multicultural festivals.
4. Investigate potential collaborations with universities that run courses on environmental protection, such as Career Trackers for young Aboriginal tertiary students or internships.
5. Identify partnerships and sponsorships with other organisations, including not-for- profit organisations which run youth environmental leadership initiatives and events, that EPA could support and be involved in.
6. Investigate the potential role social media influencers and celebrity ambassadors could play in informing and educating young people around environmental protection.

As a result, we have re-ordered the planned actions in the strategy in preparation for publication.

Question Time

Following the meeting, the members attended and observed parliamentary Question Time.

The next meeting is planned for March 2023

Inaugural meeting summary – 29 June 2022 

Introduction from the Minister for Environment and Heritage, James Griffin

At the inaugural meeting the Minister for Environment and Heritage, James Griffin congratulated members on their position and outlined his vision for engaging with youth.

Introduction from Youth Advisory Council members 

Members introduced themselves to the Minister and shared their interest in the environment and being part of the Youth Advisory Council.

Overview of the EPA – A/CEO Carmen Dwyer

Members heard from the EPA’s A/CEO Carmen Dwyer, who explained the role of the EPA, as the lead environmental regulator and provided a background into the work we do to inform, involve and support stakeholders, business and community. Carmen also outlined key initiatives to reduce litter and waste, including Return and Earn and Love Food Hate Waste. Members had the opportunity to ask questions of the A/CEO and other members of the Executive.

Single use plastics bans presentation – EPA’s Kate Doutney

Members were presented an update on the NSW Governments program to ban single use plastics in NSW, including the banning of lights weight plastic bags from 1 June 2022 and further single use plastics planned to be banned from 1 November 2022.

Discussion and feedback on single use plastics

Members discussed the bans including how the EPA is educating business and community about the bans, the policy work involved in background to enable the bans, the alternatives for plastics and funding available for business innovation.

We heard the views of members on how the bans could be promoted amongst young people, including via channels such as social media and through influencers, online school news sites and university societies and groups. We also heard their views on items to be banned in the future including on banning fruit and vegetable bags, plastics and coffee cups.

Youth Engagement Strategy facilitated feedback session – EPA’s Clair Cameron

The meeting also provided the EPA with an opportunity to outline our plan for a Youth Engagement Strategy and gain members' insights to inform its development, including their key environmental interests and how they receive information and trusted sources of information.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is committed to increasing engagement with children and young people. As part of this an Environment Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is being created.

1.    Objectives of the YAC

The objectives of the EPA YAC are to

• Gain insights into the opinions of NSW young people to ensure the EPA’s policies and programs genuinely consider them
• Provide participants a unique opportunity to learn about the role of the EPA and gain skills advising on policy, programs and social media content
• Enable young people’s input to a broader EPA youth engagement strategy
• Share EPA education information with participants

2.    Responsibilities of YAC members

YAC members have the following responsibilities

• Attend and actively participate in meetings
• Provide advice and make recommendations to the NSW EPA
• Act in a professional and responsible manner

3.    Membership

Membership is through invitation after completion of a YAC Application Form, which will be assessed against an eligibility criterion (see section 4) by the Selection Panel (consisting of two EPA staff members and one person representing the Advocate for Children and Young People and one independent representative).

Applications is open to young people aged between 15 to 22 years, living in NSW. The Youth Advisory Council will consist of a maximum of 12 youth representatives.

Membership shall aim to include a broad range of young people from a range of ages, genders, cultural backgrounds and locations in NSW.

4.    Eligibility Criteria

The following eligibility criteria will apply to the selection of Youth Advisory Council members:

• Applicant has an interest and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues (such as waste issues including single use plastics, food waste and fast fashion, water issues, climate change, sustainable development).
• Applicant has the willingness to work in a team and participate in group discussions.
• Applicant can demonstrate the ability to listen to others, be respectful of others’ opinions and be open to other ideas.
• Applicant has a passion for representing young people’s voices in Government.
• Applicants have the capacity and motivation to commit to the YAC for the required duration.

5.    Tenure and termination of membership

Members will be initially appointed for a year, with possibility of extension for a second year. Membership will cease if:

• The member turns 24 years of age during their tenure.
• The member fails to attend two meetings in a row.
• The member behaves in a way that is contrary to the responsibilities of YAC Members detailed in Section 2.

6.    Sitting fees and expenses

The YAC will be established as a committee of the EPA and sitting fees will be paid to members. Members will receive $110 for a sitting for both online and in person meetings.

Should a member not attend a meeting, a stipend will not be paid. EPA will cover travel expenses to attend face to face meetings.

7.    Induction

Once elected, the YAC is to receive an induction into the role and its requirements. This will be an online meeting.

8.    Vacancies

A vacancy on the YAC shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment is made.

9.    YAC web portal

YAC members will have access to a private online portal where relevant information including meetings dates will be available.

10.  EPA Contact

The Youth Advisory Council will be supported by the NSW EPA Stakeholder Engagement Team. The primary contact is Katie Ritchie, engagement@epa.nsw.gov.au

11.  Media authority and consent

The YAC or its’ members have no delegated authority to make comments to the media on behalf of the EPA.

All members are to provide a written consent for the EPA to publish images. And must also gain consent to post any images or comments on their own social media.

12.  Meetings

12.1        Frequency of meetings

Participants will meet for an initial induction meeting online and then three times per year. One meeting will be online via Zoom, with the possibility of two meetings being in-person (depending on public health guidelines at the time).

12.2        Attendance at meetings

YAC members are expected to attend all meetings.

Should a member be unable to attend a meeting they must inform the EPA primary contact and provide a reason. If a member does not attend two meetings in a row, their membership will be automatically revoked.

12.3        Schedule of meetings 2022

The following schedule has been provided for YAC meetings. Dates will be provided to members at the first meeting.

12.4        Meeting agendas

The NSW EPA team will set the agendas for Youth Advisory Council meetings in consultation with the council and circulate to members one week in advance of meetings.

12.5        Meeting Chair/facilitation

The NSW EPA or their contractors will chair/facilitate the Youth Advisory Council meetings.

12.6        Meeting notes and documents

All relevant meeting notes and documents will be housed on the Youth Advisory Council online portal.

13.  Review of the Terms of Reference

The YAC Terms of reference will be reviewed after the initial two years of the YAC