General News
4 September, 2023
Youth Council hosts successful climate convo
Local students have taken the lead on climate change, taking part in a conversation about the issue at the Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) this week. In October last year members of the local Climate Action Stewarding Group facilitated community...
Local students have taken the lead on climate change, taking part in a conversation about the issue at the Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) this week.
In October last year members of the local Climate Action Stewarding Group facilitated community groups to take part in climate conversations, bringing the community together to think, talk and take part in climate action.
On Wednesday, the Central Goldfields Shire Youth Council held a similar climate conversation at MEC, with youth councillors and conversation conveners Khoa Do and Safhira Rowe pleased with the quality and depth of the discussions.
“It was so great to hear such a wide range of perspectives brought to the table and the level of respect for each other’s thoughts was outstanding,” Khoa said.
“The conversations are not just lectures or information sessions and are certainly not debates.
“It’s about listening to each other in a safe space where every opinion is respected, whether you’re on board with climate change or not.”
Khoa was pleased that a commitment was made to explore ways students can focus on sustainability across the school and to possibly run their own conversations with more students in the future.
“Another positive outcome is that the young voices captured by the scribe will be forwarded to the climate stewarding group and will be used to further develop the shire’s Climate Action Plan,” he said.
Safhira explained the conversations are tightly structured with participants sitting in a circle and taking it in turns to respond to set questions from the convenor.
“The convenor asks one question at a time and participants have up to one minute to answer,” she said.
“This way the conversation can’t turn into an argument or debate.
“We all learnt so much from each other.”
Climate Action Stewarding Group member Tony Macer said these conversations confirm there is a large number of talented, knowledgeable and passionate young leaders in the community.
“It certainly gives me great hope for the future to watch young people respectfully discuss complex issues such as the degree to which humans are responsible for climate impacts, what we should be doing locally and globally, how we can learn from indigenous land management, the potential role of nuclear energy, waste management and the sourcing of local food,” he said.
“I want to congratulate and sincerely thank the youth council, the participants and MEC for helping to raise community understanding around climate change in such an impressive manner.
“MEC can rightfully feel very proud of their outstanding students.”