Whittlesea teens take ‘youth issues’ to heart

Twelve students will take to the stage at Westfield Plenty Valley in Mill Park with a mix of role play, performances and short film during National Youth Week next month.

They will be part of Whittlesea council’s “Youth Krew”, a group of under-18-year-olds nominated by their schools to give voice to issues facing today’s youth.

Using National Youth Week (April 4-13) as a platform, the teenagers will launch campaigns on the lack of mental health services for young people, lack of transport in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, safety in the community and accepting diversity.

The campaigns will run until the state election on November 29.

Whittlesea council youth development officer Emma Shelton said the students had split up into smaller groups to focus on the campaigns. National Youth Week events include a drug- and alcohol-free launch party at Youth Central in Broadmeadows on April 4.