If you're aged between 12 and 24 and want to make a real difference in your community, Far West Local Health District is offering you a unique opportunity to have your voice heard where it matters most.

The Far West Local Health District Youth Advisory Group is now recruiting members for 2026, and they're looking for young people who are ready to step up and help shape the future of healthcare in the region. This isn't just about attending meetings or filling a position on paper. It's about young people being active participants in real decision-making processes that affect healthcare for everyone in the Far West.

The health district places high value on youth participation because they understand something fundamental: young people know what young people need. Adults can make assumptions, conduct surveys and analyse statistics, but nothing replaces the authentic perspectives and lived experiences of the young people who actually use healthcare services or face barriers to accessing them.

As a Youth Advisor, your role goes beyond simply sharing opinions. You'll be providing information and local perspectives on how to improve the health of young people across the entire Far West Local Health District. Your insights will inform real decisions about real services that affect real lives, including your own and those of your peers, siblings and friends.

This isn't a passive role. Members of the Youth Advisory Group actively collaborate with health district staff in planning, managing and delivering projects. You'll be working alongside professionals who want to hear from you, who value your input, and who are committed to making sure that youth voices aren't just heard but are genuinely integrated into how healthcare is delivered in the Far West.

The scope is broad because healthcare touches every aspect of life. You might be involved in discussions about mental health services, access to healthcare in remote areas, health education programs, youth-friendly service delivery, or any number of issues that affect young people in the district. The common thread is that your perspective matters and your contribution will make a difference.

The Youth Advisory Group is open to anyone aged between 12 and 24 years. That's a deliberately wide age range because the health needs and concerns of a 12 year old are different from those of a 20 year old, and the group benefits from having diverse ages represented. Whether you're still in primary school, navigating high school, studying, working, or somewhere in between, your perspective is valuable.

You don't need special qualifications or experience in healthcare. What matters is that you care about health issues affecting young people, you're willing to contribute your time and ideas, and you're ready to work collaboratively with others. If you've experienced challenges accessing healthcare, if you've seen gaps in services, if you've wondered why certain things work the way they do, or if you simply want to help make things better, this group needs you.

Healthcare in rural and remote areas faces unique challenges. Distance, resources, access to specialists, and the specific needs of communities spread across vast areas all play a role in how services are designed and delivered. Young people living in these areas often face additional barriers that adults in metropolitan areas might not fully understand or anticipate.

By joining the Youth Advisory Group, you're not just representing yourself. You're representing your mates, your siblings, your community, and young people across the entire Far West who deserve healthcare services that actually work for them. You're helping to ensure that when decisions are made about youth health services, they're informed by the people who will actually use those services.

Far West Local Health District's commitment to youth participation isn't just rhetoric. They're creating structured opportunities for young people to be genuine partners in decision-making processes. This means your contributions won't disappear into a suggestion box, never to be seen again. You'll be working directly with staff who have the authority and responsibility to implement change, and you'll see how your input influences actual outcomes.

This kind of meaningful participation benefits everyone. Young people gain skills in advocacy, collaboration, and understanding how health systems work. The health district gains authentic insights that improve their services. Most importantly, young people across the Far West benefit from healthcare that's designed with their needs and perspectives at the centre.

If this sounds like something you want to be part of, the process is straightforward. More detailed information about the Youth Advisory Group, what's involved, and what's expected of members is available through the NSW Government website. The health district wants you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether this opportunity is right for you.

Expressions of interest are being accepted now for the 2026 group. The application process is designed to be accessible, with an online form that you can complete at your own pace. Don't let any worries about whether you're qualified or experienced enough hold you back. The health district is looking for diverse perspectives, not perfect resumes.

Healthcare affects everyone, but decisions about healthcare are often made without input from the people most affected. The Youth Advisory Group exists to change that dynamic, to ensure that young people have a seat at the table when decisions are being made about their health and wellbeing.

If you're aged between 12 and 24, if you live in the Far West, and if you want to make a genuine difference in your community, this is your opportunity. Your perspective matters. Your experiences matter. Your ideas about how healthcare could work better for young people matter.

The Far West needs young voices willing to speak up, share their experiences, and work collaboratively to improve healthcare for everyone. Will you be one of them?

For more information about the Youth Advisory Group and the role of Youth Advisors, visit the NSW Government website at the link provided. To submit your expression of interest for the 2026 group, complete the online form before applications close.

Don't wait for someone else to step up. Don't assume that other people will have better ideas or more to contribute. Your voice is unique, your perspective is valuable, and your participation could genuinely improve healthcare for young people across the entire Far West

The question isn't whether you're qualified to join. The question is whether you're ready to make a difference.