By Callum Ludwig
A Yarra Ranges Council initiative has helped students from two local high schools have their voices heard on the future of the Shire.
24 students from Upper Yarra Secondary College in Yarra Junction and Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville attended the Yarra Ranges Tech School for the pilot ‘Hearing the Voice of Yarra Ranges Youth program’ where they aim to help present projects to improve the sustainability of the Yarra Ranges’ future.
Upper Yarra Secondary College teacher Jessica Petrie said the first session on Thursday 12 May gave students an introduction to the 11-week program.
“Since then, they’ve been generating ideas and creating prototypes. They got to play with a couple of pieces of technology like a windmill to see the best design for how much energy could be generated from it,” she said.
“They were really inspired by what they could do to have their own voice and ideas heard, particularly around Yarra Junction because that’s where most of the students live.”
Ms Petrie and Innovation Specialist and VET teacher Marcus Cook accompanied the students to the session, where they will develop, design and build a project based on the criteria of the Council’s Economic Development Strategy (EDS).
Ms Petrie said the students were brainstorming ideas on the bus ride home for how to improve recreational areas in the Upper Yarra.
“They were talking about certain theories to improve parks, including wanting a safe area around the skate park because they felt that that wasn’t safe and appealing to hang out at,” she said.
“Another group was talking about how to make the Yarra River cleaner, including plants to be planted there, as well as putting out more picnic tables, barbecue areas and shelters as well as landscaping different areas.”
The students watched the film ‘Regenerating Australia’ for some inspiration, as well as being introduced to the plethora of different facilities and technology available to them such as virtual reality, drones, green screens, recording studios, robots and 3D printers.
Ms Petrie said growing up in the Yarra Ranges, her generation didn’t feel they had the opportunity to have their voices heard.
“Growing up in Yarra Junction myself, I wish we had these options and be able to experience that as well, it’s a great opportunity for them,” she said.
“It makes them feel that they’re being included in the community, and getting involved with it as well, it was just so great to see all these inspired 12 to 15-year-olds and I really enjoyed taking them there.”
Economic Development and Investment, Environment and Infrastructure, Communications and Engagement, Planning Design and Development and the Youth Development Team all had representatives at the event, as well as two of Yarra Ranges Council’s Youth Ambassadors, Patience Ntim-Duodu and Sarah Miles who will continue to guide the students with their projects going forward.
There are four more sessions at the YarraRanges Tech School for the students to look forward to before presenting their final projects to Council at a showcase in June.
