Young people find a voice on climate change

More than 40 young people aged between 11 and 25 from the Lismore and Byron Bay areas will be participating in a leadership workshop this weekend (October 30 and 31), run by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC).

Supported by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Children and Young People, the workshop is being organised by Ahri Tallon, who grew up in the Lismore area.

Ahri was one of the founding members of the Lismore based YES group (Youth Environment Society) which, for the past two years, has engaged young people in Lismore in a range of activities advocating for environmental issues.

Ahri was also a member of Young People Big Voice (YPBV), the Centre for Children and Young People’s consultative committee.

“The weekend workshops are a great opportunity for young people to learn more about how they can get active in advocating on issues they are passionate about,” Ahri said.

“The workshop will cover things such as leadership development and campaign strategies for climate action, climate science and politics, working in teams and with the media, online organising and non-violent direct action.

“We want to help build a generation of social change makers to help solve climate change.”

Ahri said his involvement with Southern Cross University’s consultative committee had influenced his involvement in the AYCC.

“Being a member of the YPBV was great. It helped me to learn about how young people interact with society and it inspired me to help empower more young people, as YPBV had done for me,” he said.

Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin MP will attend the workshop to talk to the group about how they can work effectively with their local political representatives.

The AYCC has more than 50,000 members and is one of Australia’s few examples of an entirely youth-run and youth-led organisation. All AYCC staff, volunteers and steering committee members are under 30, and the vast majority are under 25.

The event is free and will be held at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus (E Block) on Saturday, October 30 from 10am to 7pm and at the Byron Bay Community Centre on Sunday, October 31 from 10am to 7pm. Places are still available but please RSVP to Renata Phelps (renata.phelps@scu.edu.au) or phone 66293226 for catering purposes.

Photo: Australian Youth Climate Coalition leadership workshop organiser, Ahri Tallon.