Year 7 student Jag Stanford has already made a meaningful contribution to the Ballarat community through his involvement in the 2025 Kids Think Tank, a program facilitated by the City of Ballarat that gives young people an opportunity to share their ideas and contribute to community projects.
Jag became involved as a Grade 6 student at Buninyong Primary School. After completing an application and interview process, he was part of a group selected to represent his school.
One of the highlights of the experience was meeting students from other schools and working with City of Ballarat representatives. Jag contributed to discussions relating to the redevelopment of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and Lake Wendouree, helping ensure young people's perspectives were heard.
Through these projects, Jag developed valuable skills in public speaking, teamwork and confidence, while learning the importance of representing not only his school, but the voices of young people across Ballarat.
He says these skills have been particularly useful as he transitioned to high school, helping him feel comfortable meeting his teachers and other students and encouraging him to embrace new opportunities.
Jag's commitment and contribution have recently been recognised through a nomination for a Ballarat Youth Award. He said he was proud of both himself and fellow nominee Lily, and that the nomination came as a welcome surprise.
"I really enjoyed being part of the program and being a voice for kids," Jag said. "The nomination shows that the hard work I put into the program has paid off."
We congratulate Jag on his achievements and wish him all the best for the Ballarat Youth Awards, with winners to be announced on 14 August.
To learn more about Jag's involvement - Inside the Kids Think Tank: How local students are changing the way Council listens | City of Ballarat