Albion’s Billy Chen was named Brimbank’s Young Citizen of the Year at the recent We Are Brimbank Awards. He chats with Laura Michell.
What is your connection to Brimbank?
I grew up in Brimbank and currently live in Albion. My parents have lived in Australia for over 20 years. I’ve always loved growing up in Brimbank, where I am surrounded by a supportive and friendly community. I really care about making Brimbank the best it can be, so I stepped up as chair of the Brimbank Youth Council in 2023. It was a great chance to chat with local councillors and create a student motivation project.
What do you like about where you live?
I love how vibrant and multicultural Brimbank is. As a second-generation Chinese immigrant, I always feel at home in Brimbank, and I love the different cultural events we hold throughout the year. Whether it’s someone who has migrated to Australia, grown up here, or came to Australia as a refugee, each story of resilience and determination adds a thread to the beautiful tapestry of life stories in Brimbank.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I’d love to see more opportunities for young people to grow and build their confidence outside the classroom. These could be public speaking workshops, career events, and youth entrepreneur programs. Young people in Brimbank have so much promise. It would be amazing for us to have more opportunities to build new skills as we step into the workforce, contribute to society, and start our own businesses.
How does it feel to be recognised as Brimbank’s Young Citizen of the Year?
It’s a great honour to be recognised as Brimbank’s Young Citizen of the Year, especially knowing there were so many outstanding nominees for the award. I feel very grateful to have worked with many passionate people from various community groups, including Western Chances, Brimbank Youth Council, Youth4Youth, and Victorian Youth Congress. They continue to inspire me to keep making a difference in my community.
What drives your passion to advocate for young people from Brimbank?
Growing up in Brimbank, I noticed our young people had fewer opportunities than the rest of Melbourne. Young people in Brimbank are full of potential but need access to more opportunities to succeed. This inequality has driven my passion for advocating for young people. It has motivated me to take on leadership roles such as Chair of the Brimbank Youth Council and become a member of the Victorian Youth Congress to advocate for young people in Brimbank.
What is the most pressing issue facing young people in Brimbank?
The most pressing issue facing young people in Brimbank is access to employment and educational opportunities. Education is essential to unlocking young people’s future, so we should do everything possible to ensure high-quality teaching and learning in Brimbank. Brimbank continues to have high rates of youth unemployment. Helping young people enter the workforce is key to breaking the cycle of generational disadvantage in Brimbank.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I lost my voice for an entire week after going to a footy game earlier this year. I’m a big Western Bulldogs fan, and my favourite players are Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, and Jason Johannisen.
