Last weekend the Eltham Electorate Youth Advisory Council, run by Vicki Ward MP, held a Youth Art Show
in support of Youth Mental Health while raising money for ReachOut Australia.

ReachOut Australia is a mental health service that supports young people and their families to better their
mental health and wellbeing and the Youth Advisory Council is proud to have raised almost $400 to
support them.

The Youth Advisory Council is made up of young people that live within the Eltham electorate who are
eager to create change and have impact in a policy area important to them. Each year the group choses an
area of interest to focus on, and this year the group chose Mental Health.

Twelve artists aged 12-25 participated in the show, showing off works that reflected their journey with
their mental health. Congratulations to Zalie, Sarah, Ellie, Caesia, Alexandra, Madison, Angus, Jayde, Kayla,
Zoe, Stephanie, and Lucinda for their efforts and exhibits on the day. For many of the entrants this was
their first art showing, and the excitement and value of the experience was palpable.

The Youth Council organised this event with the support of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce and the
Eltham Men’s Shed – with help from volunteers Mark, Lou, and Leon – who set up a sausage sizzle to help
the Youth Advisory Council raise funds for ReachOut.

The Eltham High Choir also entertained visitors with renditions of popular songs – including crowd
favourite ‘Under Pressure’ by David Bowie. Thanks to teachers Lyndlay, Darren and their students who
came down on a Saturday morning on the first day of school holidays to support our young people and
their work.

In addition to the Youth Art Show, the councillors have also worked collaboratively with Headspace
Australia and their local schools to offer Headspace sessions to students and their parents focusing on how
to support themselves and the people around them who may be struggling.

Thanks to the efforts of the 2022 Youth Advisory Councillors: Amelia, Charlotte, Jackson, Niamh, Fieke,
Rachel, Lachie, Lois, and Maya – who have dedicated time and energy to this project and have
demonstrated their ability to as a team and to achieve substantial change in the electorate.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eltham, Vicki Ward

"Congratulations to all of the young talented artists who proudly displayed their work on Saturday, it was a
wonderful afternoon which bought community together from all ages and stages for a great cause.”

Thank you to my Youth Advisory Council for their hard work in both the planning and on the day delivery of
the event which sparked important conversations in our community about Mental Health and raised funds
for ReachOut while also giving young artists a public platform to showcase their incredible work.”