General News
21 October, 2025
Region’s future leaders
MORE than 2000 young people have had their say in shaping the next generation of local leaders.
The Cairns Youth Council election, held from 8-12 September, attracted strong participation from across the region, with 12 new members aged 13 to 17 now elected to represent the voice of young people in Cairns.
The 2025 youth councillors are: Anja Dimitrijevic (16), Ari Kohn (17), Aryan Jain (13), Chad Rutten (15), Claudia Kurowski (16), Dean Coombs (15), Hamish Mead (14), Noah Solomon (15), Parker Scott (13), Poppy Pacey (15), Samuel Chesters (16) and Tara Tamang (15).
Over the coming months, the newly-elected councillors will complete their induction and engage with peers to better understand the issues and priorities that matter most to local youth.
The group will be officially sworn in at a special ceremony in February 2026.
Delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), the Cairns Youth Council is part of the national Young Mayors program, which empowers young people to take part in local decision-making and shape the future of their communities.
Cairns is one of several Australian councils working with FYA to amplify youth voices and civic participation.
