Bundaberg Regional Council is looking after local youth by providing a host of fun activities throughout April and promoting mental health.
Council is rolling into the 2017 Youth Month program in a splash of colour with a skate competition, colour run events and the bi-annual Youth Summit.
Community and Cultural Services portfolio spokesperson Councillor Judy Peters said throughout April the region’s youth would be celebrated with the most exciting mix of Youth Month events yet.
“We are very excited to have been able to work with community groups throughout the region to introduce a raft of youth-orientated events that encourage participation, connectivity with the community and most of all fun.
“Youth Month will kick off in style on April 1 with the 4670 Skate Jam competition, hosted by our very own BMX superstar Jack Fahey.
“It’s an opportunity to see first-hand how the professionals handle themselves before joining in on the fun for a chance to win some terrific prizes.
“This will be followed by colour runs and a neon run event which will see youngsters walk or run tracks in Gin Gin and Childers while being splattered with every colour of the rainbow and glowing bright with neon in Bargara.”
Cr Peters said the Youth Summit was back in 2017 and was not to be missed by residents aged 12 to 25.
“The 2017 Youth Summit will be held on April 27 and is an important opportunity for the region’s youth to add their voice to Council’s Youth Strategy.
“This is a forum for our young people to identify the issues facing them and work with us on strategies to address those issues.
“The last Youth Summit was held in 2015 and the topics and issues raised at that summit have informed our youth strategy and the rollout of our youth development services over the last two years.”
In town to help launch the Bundaberg Region’s Youth Month celebrations and promote the One Million Conversation challenge is RUOK’s Question Mark ‘character’ Quentin.
“We’re thrilled to have Quentin in town in early April to promote the importance of a simple conversation when checking up on your friends, family and colleagues. Quentin has already travelled more than 5000km throughout Australia encouraging just under 500,000 conversations so far,” he said.
“It’s wonderful to know that the Bundaberg Region will be a part of contributing to such a wonderful initiative, so if you see a large yellow question mark floating around town, remember to ask someone if they are OK.”