A DUBBO teenager will represent her city, culture and region as a member of the 2013 NSW Youth Advisory Council after being chosen as an appointee from dozens of hopefuls.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At 16 years old, Dubbo College Senior Campus student Teleria Milson will be one of the youngest and the only Indigenous representative on the 12-member council designed to provide insight to the NSW government on youth-related programs and policies.
Former Dubbo College Delroy Campus Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer (ACLO) Shiralee Hartnett and cousin of Miss Milson told her about the opportunity to apply for the council.
"I sent my application at the end of last year," she said.
Once making it past the early round, 80 applicants including Miss Milson, who was accompanied by Delroy Campus staff member Ms Kerry-Anne Swan, flew to Sydney in November last year.
Miss Milson has credited the Dubbo College Delroy and Senior Campuses as a solid support network that has helped her achieve her goals.
"My school plays a big role," she said.
"I love my school they are 100 per cent behind me."
Dubbo College director Kerri Leigh-Gordon said Miss Milson's appointment to the youth council was an opportunity for the teenager to continue her strong profile as a role model for young Aboriginal women.
"We are all extremely proud of Teleria's appointment to the NSW Youth Advisory Council. Teleria is an outstanding young woman and will very capably represent the voice of young people to the state government," she said.
After being inspired by Tania Major, an Indigenous youth advocate, through the Aboriginal Girls Circle at Dubbo College Delroy Campus, Miss Milson has been driven to aim high.
"Tania inspired me to give everything a go. She is an awesome lady," she said.
Miss Milton found out last week she was successful in becoming a member of the youth council and would be part of the first meeting this weekend.
"This is the first time we all get to meet each other," she said.
"I have met some on Facebook and they were really nice."
While in office as a member of the youth council Miss Milson hopes to raise the issues of the Dubbo community she believes are important, including increasing community engagement.
"I want to get across that all towns are different. I love Dubbo," she said.
"We have a lot of facilities but many people don't use them. As a community we should work together."
This weekend Miss Milson will travel by herself to the first youth council meeting with others to be held every six weeks.
"I chose to be mature and fly by myself," she said.
"As a young leader I feel like I have had the drive to put my head to everything. I will have to work hard in Dubbo and listen to my community."