Brimbank local Lauri Pavlovich has been selected as a new member of this year’s Victorian Youth Congress (VYC), and said they plan to use their position to advocate for all young people in the west.
For Lauri, being selected as part of the 2025 youth advisory group was an unexpected but exciting moment.
“I feel very privileged for the opportunity. It is a really incredible space to have my own voice heard and be able to represent my community but also to hear and learn from others,“ they said.
Each year, as part of the VYC, a new group consisting of 12 to 25 year-olds works with the Victorian government to identify and address issues facing young people.
During their term, Lauri plans to advocate for better mental health care and access to alternative education pathways.
They also want to strengthen protections and representation for marginalised groups such as transgender youth, chronically ill young people, and people with disabilities.
“I’ve got a lot of different lived experiences that I pull from…using lived experiences with mental health, of disability and chronic illness, of neurodivergence as well as being trans and being queer…all that ties into being a young person,” said Lauri.
“That informs all of the advocacy and work that I do and I try to keep that in mind when I am advocating for my communities…knowing where I’m missing knowledge and trying to create conversations where those knowledge gaps are filled”
Lauri is currently studying a Bachelor of Youth Work and has previously completed a Double Diploma in Community Services and Counselling.
They started out as a youth peer facilitator at Sydenham Neighbourhood House after initially getting involved in the community group’s programs as a participant.
From there they moved into working across community spaces focused on youth, disability, mental health, research and the arts.
“All of those roles have been focussed on specifically young people in those areas,” they said.
“I love my work in that I’m able to improve upon the systems that both supported me and did not support me, and make sure they’re better for the next generations.”
