COUNCIL’S YOUTH SERVICES RECOGNISED AT STATE LEVEL FOR THIRD TIME
Published on 08 July 2026
The Youth Booth has again been recognised among NSW’s leading youth programs, with Glen Innes Severn Council’s Youth Week 2026 program named a finalist in the NSW Youth Week Awards.
The nomination marks the third state-level recognition for The Youth Booth and Council’s youth-led initiatives in less than two years, a significant achievement for a small regional community and a clear sign that local young people are helping shape programs that stand out well beyond Glen Innes Severn.
The Youth Booth is a finalist in the Small and Sensational category, which celebrates outstanding Youth Week programs delivered by councils with a youth population of fewer than 10,000.
General Manager Bernard Smith said the recognition was a proud moment for the whole community and reflected the strength of what has been built through The Youth Booth.
“This is not a big-city program with big-city resources. This is our young people, our Youth Workers and our community partners creating something that is being noticed across NSW. That is something Glen Innes Severn should be incredibly proud of,” he said.
The latest nomination follows previous state-level recognition in the 2025 Local Government Week Awards, where The Youth Booth was named a finalist for Best Small Council with the Most Outstanding Youth Week Program, and the 2026 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards, where Council’s Youth Services team received Highly Commended in the Community Development - councils under 100,000 population category.
In the lead-up to Youth Week, 48 young people took part in planning sessions, surveys and consultation activities to help shape a program that reflected their interests, ideas and priorities. That input helped create three events: Popcorn & Pixels, Skate. Create. Celebrate., and My Culture. My Pride, each providing young people with different ways to connect, create, participate and celebrate who they are.
Across the program, there were more than 160 event registrations, reflecting strong participation across Youth Week activities and supporting social connection, creativity, inclusion, cultural expression and the activation of local community spaces. Young people who took an active role in planning Youth Week formed the Youth Crew, helping coordinate and deliver programs and activities throughout the week.
In May, Mayor Margot Davis and the General Manager visited The Youth Booth to acknowledge the young people who contributed to the planning and delivery of Youth Week 2026. Members of the Youth Crew were presented with certificates of recognition, celebrating their leadership, commitment and contribution to the community.
Mr Smith said the repeated state-level recognition showed the value of backing young people to have a real say in the programs designed for them.
“The Youth Crew and The Youth Booth participants have shown what young people can do when they are trusted, supported and given the opportunity to lead. They have helped create a program that reflects their ideas, their culture, their friendships and their community,” he said.
“To see that recognised across three state-level awards programs is outstanding. Council is incredibly proud of the young people involved, our Youth Workers and the community partners who continue to make The Youth Booth such a success,” Mr Smith said.
The 2026 NSW Youth Week Awards winners will be announced at the official awards ceremony later this year.
Media Enquiries: (02) 6730 2314 | media@gisc.nsw.gov.au