More than 60 creative, dedicated and enthusiastic young people put their applications in to join the Council and 8 were directly elected by YWCA’s members to provide their input and expertise on YWCA’s advocacy.
Find out more about them below, in their own words, straight from their applications!
Angelina Inthavong (20)
Urban Queensland
Angelina is passionate about amplifying diverse intersectional voices for a more equitable world. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Masters of Public Health at the Australian National University. Her background as a queer woman of colour from a single-income household acted as the catalyst for her activism focused on amplifying lived experience and increasing diversity in decision-making.
As the 2021 Queensland Youth Health Minister, she led her portfolio to create an innovative Youth Bill to end period poverty, pitched a policy to the U.S. Embassy on improving access to sexual and reproductive health services in the Indo-Pacific through USAID, and advocates for CALD communities in the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network and Department of Health’s COVID-19 Youth Reference Group. She was also the co-founder of a youth-led, grassroots, non-profit called “Crafts and Convos” a support group and safe space for young women and gender-diverse people going through tough times.
Asha Clementi (24)
Australian Capital Territory
I am a 24 year old gender equality activist who recently graduated from the Australian National University with a Master of Diplomacy. At the age of 17, I co-founded The Girls Leadership Network (TGLN) with my mother. TGLN is a not-for-profit that focuses on teaching young women aged 16-22 leadership skills and providing them with a supportive network of likeminded peers.
In 2018, I started my own organisation, Girls Run the World (GRTW), to create opportunities for young women to engage with the diplomatic community. Over the past five years, GRTW has created opportunities for over 180 young women to spend a day at 45 diplomatic missions in Canberra. I have been recognised for my work, being named the 2022 ACT Young Woman of the Year and being a finalist for the 2022 ACT Young Australian of the Year Award.
Lauren Scott (22)
Urban Victoria
My name is Lauren Scott, and I am a proud Arabana and Southern Arrernte person raised on Boon-wurrung country. I am a passionate advocate for marginalised people, and have held advisory and policy guidance roles in several organisations. I was on the Youth Advisory Committee for the Royal Children’s Hospital from 2013-2018, as a person with disability. I have also been heavily involved in student representation at the University of Melbourne Student Union, serving as both an Indigenous Committee member and general council representative in 2021, and a student-elected Women’s Office Bearer in 2022.
I describe myself as an intersectional feminist, and in all women’s advocacy, I aim to platform the concerns and struggles of women oppressed on several axes – Indigenous women, women of colour, disabled women, queer women, migrant and refugee women. I believe that this is absolutely integral to ensuring the liberation and equality of all women.
Rhiannon Halling (24)
Regional New South Wales
I am a disabled, queer woman about to turn 24 whose whole life revolves around social justice. I am super passionate in particular about policy and education reform. My wheelhouse is within gender based policy, disability policy, LGBTQIA+ policy and Indigenous policy. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Politics and International Relations with a minor in Indigenous Studies.
I am undertaking a Post Grad Certificate in Public Policy and Governance to help refine my skills to create systematic reform. I am an enthusiastic volunteer with She’s a Crowd a data crowdsourcing business for GBV and a Raise Our Voices content creator volunteer advocating for women and gender non conforming people to be represented politically. I am also a 2023 Youth Activist with Plan International Australia
Zoe Keath (25)
Urban Queensland
I am a Policy Officer with the Queensland Government and an Honours graduate from the Queensland University of Technology, specialising in criminology and psychology. My honours thesis examined the role of politics and social media in the amplification and normalising of far-right extremist sentiment.
I partake in a range of community work, including as a Non-Executive Director with Voices of Influence Australia, a Parliamentary Officer with the Queensland Youth Parliament and as a Youth Advisor on numerous Youth Advisory Councils, including with the U.S Consulate, Queensland Family and Child Commission and Bravehearts. My community work has been recognised with numerous accolades including being recognised as one of the top 20 Women in Sustainable Development (2022) and as a Young Women to Watch in International Affairs (2023).
Emily Wightman (26)
Regional New South Wales
I’m a proud Kamilaroi, Butchulla, Woopaburra and South sea Islander woman. I’ve faced homelessness, domestic violence and teen pregnancy. I’ve faced each situation I’ve been through head on and conquered each situation that has arisen. I strongly believe I’ll be able to support and advocate and be a voice for other young women who are facing very similar circumstances because of my lived experiences, can-do attitude and the way I’m able to empathize and connect with others. I’m strongly passionate about homelessness, especially in young women because they are extremely vulnerable and anything could happen and also because I’ve lived it and I wouldn’t want anyone to have to go through that, especially another young woman.
Sarah Williams (22)
Regional New South Wales
I am the founder of What Were You Wearing (WWYW) Australia a non-profit organisation focusing on providing education, awareness, advocacy on sexual violence. I am also a survivor advocate of both child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault.
I am passionate about ending domestic and sexual violence and being able to help and support survivors heal. In 2023, I was awarded Newcastle Woman of the Year and was also awarded New South Wales Volunteer of the Year by Youth Action in 2022. My main passions are bringing awareness to how First Nations people, people living with a disability, and people within the LGBTQIA+ community are more affected by sexual violence. Being a part of all three communities has allowed me to have lived experience within these, and understand the true effects of them. I am also studying a dual Bachelor of Law and Communication at the University of Newcastle.
Tamika Jarvis (27)
Regional New South Wales
I am a young mother and proud Bundjalung woman currently living on the Central Coast, NSW. For almost five years I have volunteered with Orange Sky Australia – a not-for-profit organisation offering mobile shower and laundry services to Australia’s homeless communities. I was drawn to this organisation from my own experiences as a young person and hardships experienced from becoming a parent at such a young age (20).
My tertiary training is in the construction industry, where I worked in tier 1 building for seven years. Within this time, I have witnessed many injustices of the building and development sectors, and how this has significantly affected housing instability and current homelessness. I have recently left my 9-5 role in the building industry to increase my participation in the for-purpose space. I balance my time volunteering with Orange Sky, a local Aboriginal community hub, and an AOD rehabilitation service in my area.
