headspace Echuca Youth Reference Group was named Community Group of the Year at the Campaspe Shire Council Citizen awards on Thursday, January 22.

The group received the honour at the award ceremony ahead of five other nominees, for the dedication, passion, remarkable service and ongoing contributions that make a difference in the community.

Campaspe Shire Council chief executive Pauline Gordon said through advocacy, creative projects, cultural partnerships and community leadership, they improve service across the region.

The Youth Reference Group members are aged between 16 to 25 and assist the headspace centre and community engagement by strengthening mental health across the region and empowering young people.

headspace Echuca centre manager Meaghan Sully accepted the award on behalf of the group and praised the group’s community engagement officer Jayden Howe for his support.

“He offered them opportunities to come up with innovative ideas and projects,” Ms Sully said.

The Youth Reference Group inspires creativity, wellbeing and promotes inclusion through its projects such as the 2025 Looking Forward publication which empowers young voices across the Campaspe region.

The project celebrates resilience and identity through art, writing and storytelling, helping the community heal and look forward after challenging years of floods and COVID-19.

Ms Sully said the group’s membership had grown over the past 12 months, becoming more diverse and representative of pockets of the community in different ways.

“I think that’s the beauty of that group because they’re so representative,’’ she said.

“Having the youth reference group being the true representation of young people in the community helps us to improve what we do.

“The group bridges the gap between services and young people out there in the community.”

Ms Sully thanked the members of the youth reference group “because they make such a big difference to what we do at the centre, how we deliver services to the community and encourage young people to come in”.

“If this award encourages other young people to reach out and want to join, that’s fabulous,” she said.

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