Armidale Regional Youth Forum

The Armidale Regional Youth Forum was held at Armidale City Bowling Club on Wednesday 8 August to give young people aged 14 to 24 years the opportunity to speak up and discuss the topics that concern them most.

Students from Armidale and Guyra were joined by representatives from Tingha, Walcha and Lake Macquarie and young people engaged with local youth services.

The Armidale Regional Youth Advisory Committee (ARYAC) coordinated the event, with assistance from Council, and has selected four topics:

• sexuality and sexual health
• mental health
• drugs and alcohol
• cyberbullying/bullying

Member of Parliament Mehreen Faruqi and police officer Senior Constable Jarryd De Castro, LGBTI Liaison Officer and Peer Support Officer, were guest speakers at the forum and part of a discussion panel.

Several other professionals were on hand for forum discussions, which included Conversation Cafes for small groups to consider the key issues and find solutions.