Post by National Youth Employment Body

Our Youth Advisory Board brings together young people who are invested in their local community and care about improving opportunities for young people from the eight communities in which Community Investment Committees operate. YAB members provide strategic guidance on how the NYEB can work towards its mission, advice on opportunities to strengthen youth voice across the NYEB and on advocacy and policy change. Anna Woolnough hails from Narooma, in the Eurobodalla region of southern NSW. ⭐ What was your first ever job? A waitress at an oyster farm. I’m very clumsy and think oysters are gross so it was definitely a learning experience for me! ⭐ How did you go from there to here? I got a job making coffee with a really great manager who was super involved in our community, she sent me the job request and told me to go for it! ⭐ What’s something different about your local community? I grew up in a coastal town that’s pretty small, so no matter what time you go to the beach you’re bound to run into someone you know. I’ve now moved to Sydney for uni, it’s very different but I’m lucky enough to live in student accommodation, which is like having your own little community. ⭐ What are you working on right now? I’m in my second year on the YAB and I think I’m still learning to be more confident taking opportunities to grow. I’ve just started uni so I’m learning lots! The biggest step for me is time management, I’m working on being efficient as possible, to do my shopping when I’m already in town, and my homework when I’m at school! ⭐ What’s a tip for someone trying to do what you’re doing? Stay positive, and don’t overthink it! Sometimes your own doubts can be your biggest enemy, it’s better to get out there and keep giving it a go, even if you’re messing up, it’s better than if you did nothing.