Enticing young people to Shepparton and implementing the new Victorian Youth Strategy are on the top of Tom Saxton’s list of priorities as a Victorian Youth Congress member this year.
Recently re-selected, the Shepparton local said the opportunity to communicate with members of government about issues that matter to young people was too good to pass up.
“I think it’s pretty rare as a young person,” he said.
“On top of that, there are 20 other young people who are all super passionate and come from all walks of life.
“Being able to communicate with them or even team up with them on different projects — it’s absolutely amazing.”
And Mr Saxton is well qualified for the job.
He is the youngest person to graduate from the Fairley Leadership Program and was named Shepparton’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2020.
In 2021, he was awarded Greater Shepparton’s Young Volunteer of the Year award.
Mr Saxton was also the project research officer for the Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network’s COVID-19 Impact Youth Report last year.
The survey found the majority of the Goulburn Valley’s young people were confident about the future.
It’s something Mr Saxton believes is a testament to Shepparton and its surrounds.
“I think locally, we’ve got a lot of things going for us,” he said.
“But we’ve got a bit of a brain drain.”
He said once young people left for university in Melbourne or other big cities, they didn’t tend to return to the regions.
He said presenting the opportunities on offer in the region was part of the solution to attract graduates back.
“It starts with the little things like presenting Shepparton in a more positive light,” Mr Saxton said.
“Employers are really wanting to hire young people and give them a career.”
Creating more opportunities for young people across Victoria is something Mr Saxton hopes to address with the Victorian Youth Strategy, set to be implemented this year.
As a whole government strategy, Mr Saxton said it was hoped the policies would be implemented in every state department.
“It’s really a policy led by young people,” he said.
“You had young people from northern Victoria on a Zoom meeting with real decision-makers.”
The Victorian Youth Congress is an advisory group made up of representatives aged 12 to 25.
The congress consults regularly with Victorian Youth Minister Ros Spence about issues facing the state’s young people.