NSW Nationals Regional Youth Minister Bronnie Taylor has joined those working remotely with a Regional Youth Taskforce (RYT) teleconference focusing on how young people in regional and rural communities connect digitally and physically to individuals and services.
Established in 2019, the RYT advises the Minister and NSW Government agencies on policy decisions and issues affecting young people in regional NSW.
Although the group were unable to physically get together in Queanbeyan as planned, the meeting went ahead via video technology without any hiccups.
Mrs Taylor highlighted the importance of the Taskforce and their influence on improving the lives of their peers.
“Ensuring the voices of regional young people are not getting drowned out in the crowded stream of news and information around COVID-19 is absolutely critical”, Mrs Taylor said.
“Good connectivity for our young people out in the regions is so important, especially so in these times of social isolation and social distancing.
“The fantastic thing about the Taskforce is that it gives us a direct line into what is working well and what isn’t so we can look at adapting policy and closing the gaps.”
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello joined in the teleconference to hear ideas about how government could better engage with young people, particularly through the Service NSW app.
The Taskforce will meet again in the middle of the year to address the subject of ‘wellbeing’, another pillar in the Regional Youth Framework, the whole-of-government approach to improve social and economic opportunities and outcomes of young people in regional NSW.
