Meet The Candidates

The Mackay Regional Council has introduced the Mackay Youth Council, for Mackay young people to be able to make decisions regarding the area, be a voice for Mackay youth. The Mackay Youth Council election began on May 2 finishing up on May 5, with vote counting beginning May 6. All young people aged 10 to 17 were eligible to vote. Preferential voting meant that voters can choose to vote for only one candidate, some candidates, or all.

Voting Locations

Voting took place earlier this week at the following locations: Dudley Denny City Library, Mirani Community, Mirani State School, Sarina State High School, Sarina Youth Centre, Mackay Regional Council Jubilee Community Centre, Catherine McAuley College,

Gordon White Library, Holy Spirit College and Mackay Regional Council Jubilee Community Centre.

There is still time to vote today, Friday May 5, at the following locations: St Joseph’s Primary 10.40am to 11.40am

Whitsunday’s Anglican School 1.30pm to 2pm

Mackay Northern Beaches 11.05am to 11.45am, 12.55pm to 1.35pm

Mackay Regional Council Jubilee Community Centre 3pm to 5pm

Ella Pimm

My vision for Mackay in the future is that every single young person will have a voice and will feel safe in their community.

Bridget Wright

I want to see Mackay grow into a place where every single child, teenager, and adult gets treated equally and fairly. I want to help create equal opportunities, such as career pathways and sporting programs that are available to everybody. Every single one of young people needs

Henry Burrell

That young people from across the Mackay region can have their ideas, dreams and voices heard by our local authorities. I want to

Deegan McCormack

To see a place that is safe for kids mental health. So kids

Stephen Miranda

Safety of the youth is a top priority, where students and kids alike feel confident about their mental health, where kids have safe access to road and train crossings, and where youth crime is lower than the Australian average.

If kids are not getting adequate mental health resources, then an inclusive and accessible place where they can go to be themselves – regardless of location, income, or other dividing factors. see equal opportunities and availability of resources open for everyone, no matter what their background. I want to see real change where it really matters.

I want Mackay to turn into a place that actively listens to its young citizens and does its best to help youth feel heard and understood in their community.

Krystopher Gakowski

We must invest in our young people to ensure they have the skills, resources, and opportunities to thrive and contribute to society. Mackay's youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and their well-being and success are essential to the future of our community.

Keeping youth in Mackay after

Rory McPhail

My vision for Mackay is a town which focuses specifically on youth development and success, which can be done through my policies and proposals. I stand for a number of policies including:

• Increased maintenance for skateparks and youth facilities which have been graffiti, they finish school is essential to the region's long-term prosperity. We need to:

• Promote local educational opportunities

• Advocate for local jobs

• Support entrepreneurship and innovation

• Promote the community and the region’s lifestyle

• Foster a sense of belonging

• Increased council support for Defence Force Cadets,

• Providing for local youth sports club through funding, facilities and by meeting with local team community members, can talk to people about their problems like bullying (online and offline) and depression. This is a place that we all should dream of. the amount of youth suicide and self-harm reportings will skyrocket as the city grows towards 200 000, putting even more strain on an already struggling network. And with some schools, like my school Catherine McAuley College (CMC), safer crossings are needed to ensure the safety of students needing to cross busy streets in order to get to their homes.

• Meeting with local youth citizens to discuss problems and solutions.

• Increase accessible activities that actually appeal to young people in Mackay,

Ananya Goti

I want to create a community where everyone is respected, well-nourished and adequately housed, where our education systems thrive, and where healthcare is available for everyone. Mackay should accommodate everyone no matter someone's ethnicity, race, appearance, or identity. We need opportunities such as multicultural clubs, a Lego Robotics program or even a monthly community clean-up, to offer more diversity. Additionally, these long-lasting experiences provide growth socially, mentally, and physically of our youth, possibly leading to future career pathways. The youth of Mackay are our future, their education, social life, and home should be a safe space to be themselves.

• I am focused on realistic policies which will have a genuine positive impact in Mackay.