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Youth Advisory Group

Meet our YAG

The Youth Solutions Youth Advisory Group (YAG) are volunteers aged 16 – 25 years who who live, study, work, are connected to, or spend their recreation time in, the Macarthur and Wingecarribee regions. Each member is passionate about youth health.

The YAG generally meet once a month at the Youth Solutions office to help us to identify and address the issues that local young people are facing.

Want to learn more about our YAG or want to join?

Find out more

Alyssa-Jade Binney

Qualifications

  • First Aid Certificate
  • Certificate II in Hospitality
  • Certificate III in Health
  • Commencing undergraduate Bachelor Degree in Branded Fashion Design

Alyssa-Jade (AJ) has many interests, among them a passion for fashion design, attending live music events and a love of reading. She starts uni this year and will juggle her studies with a part-time job and other volunteer opportunities. She enjoys helping the community by assisting young people to find their voices and individuality in varied and different ways.

AJ was school captain in her final year of high school last year.

Anastasia Hughes

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Public Health majoring in Social Epidemiology (University of Wollongong)
  • Studying a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies (University of Notre Dame)

Anastasia has an interest in public health and enjoys seeing what organisations in the field are working on to improve health literacy and access. Anastasia loves that being a part of the YAG allows her to constantly learn and engage in public health initiatives through campaigns, events and workshops.

Anastasia also completed her university placement at Youth Solutions, where she researched e-cigarettes. She is particularly interested in attending stalls during the #whyichoose campaign period.

In her spare time, Anastasia enjoys playing sport, cooking, and drawing.

Anita Kaur

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Anita joined YAG in 2022 and has embraced the opportunities that YAG has offered her to date. Anita’s teaching and school learning support officer roles have helped her see the importance of educating young people about the harm associated with alcohol, smoking, and drug use.

In her spare time, Anita enjoys attending live music gigs and reading poetry.

Ansgar Chikunda

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Health Science Majoring in Health Promotion

Ansgar joined our Youth Advisory Group in November 2022, after completing his student placement with us from April to June 2022. Ansgar chose to volunteer with Youth Solutions because he wanted to engage with young people and empower them to make positive lifestyle choices.

In his spare time, Ansgar enjoys being outside with a footy and exercising.

Aviral Sharda

Qualifications

  • Studying a Bachelor of echocardiology and cardiac physiology at CQ University
  • Completed HLTAIS02 Provide First Aid in an education and care setting

Aviral joined the Youth Advisory Group in 2023. Aviral enjoys learning about health sciences and how the body is structured. He also enjoys working with people.

Aviral joined YAG as he believes that health promotion and education play important roles within the community. He is grateful to be able to play a role in harm minimisation. Aviral likes working alongside other like-minded people to reach a common goal.

Aviral’s interests include fashion design and learning about historic fashion styles.

Mahnee Hielman

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (completed in 2022 at the University of Wollongong)
  • Currently studying an Honours Degree in Psychology through Monash University
  • Currently completing her Lifeline Crisis Support Internship
  • First Aid Certificate

Mahnee brings wide and varied skills and interests to the table. She is currently working at John Therry in Student Wellbeing Administration Support. In her down time she enjoys cooking and creating new food as well as walking and exploring the great outdoors.

Mahnee hopes to gain a lot of different training from YAG to broaden her personal and professional skills set.

Maia Tiddy

Maia joined YAG in January 2023.

Maia is excited to be volunteering in the youth space and is keen to help spread awareness about the risks of drug and alcohol to young people.

Sophia Britton

Qualifications

  • Currently studying Year 10

High school student Sophia is a keen volunteer at community services and brings with her a passion for art, history and politics. She is a newcomer to YAG but promises her enthusiasm and energy and willingness to learn.

Sophia is a talented dancer and singer and performs in musicals. She is a Silver Ambassador at her school. Sophia’s favourite movie is Howl’s Moving Castle and her favourite song is Secret for the Made by Dodie.

Our Peer Educators

Learn more about our YAG and the work they do through our Peer Enrichment and Empowerment Project (PEEP).

Find out more
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