Youth Voice Peak Group to address NT schools’ biggest issues

An advisory group of NT students has already seen an impact on education after a year of consultation with the NT government. Here’s how next year’s school leaders can get involved.

An NT student council has already affected change on major policy decisions such as the Secondary Education Review, and is now inviting new members aboard.

The Youth Voice Peak Group was established in 2023 and has already seen changes come to fruition thanks to the feedback it gave to the NT government throughout the year.

“Students are the people actually going through school, so it’s important that they get to have an insight of what goes on,” Casuarina Senior College student Billy Timbs said.

Mr Timbs – one of seven Darwin-based members of the 16-person-strong council – said it was one thing for people “behind the scenes” to make decisions about what students want, but it was important for the people affected by those decisions to have a say.

“It’s probably the first group I’ve been in that I’ve been able to actually express my voice and have it heard,” he said.

“The Secondary Review and the Statement of Commitment came back to us, and they showed us what changes were made after speaking to all the youth across the NT.”

Casuarina Senior College student Billy Timbs was a member of the NT's Youth Voice Peak Group for schooling policy. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Applications for next year’s Youth Voice Peak Group have opened, with Year 10-12 students across the NT invited to join.

To be eligible, students must also be able to attend all eight meetings throughout the year – four in person and four online.

Costs to attend meetings will be covered by the NT Department of Education.

More information about applications can be found on the website.