Tell us about yourself. Anything and everything, we’d love to get to know you.
I am Zoe, I am a musical theatre-lover, community volunteer and passionate youth advocate. As the generation set to inherit the earth, I believe that it is vital that youth voices are heard and listened to. I achieve this through the wide range of volunteering and advocacy work I do. I also work full-time as a public servant serving my community.
When I am not working or volunteering, I am passionate about all things creative. I love musical theatre, singing and dancing. I also enjoy painting, drawing and reading.
Tell us a little more about what you’re doing in the community to help make a difference?
I am a strong believer in giving back to the community. Combined with my passion for youth advocacy, I serve my community by making sure young people’s voices are heard on the issues that matter to them. I amplify young voices through serving as a youth advisor on numerous youth advisory councils with the U.S. Consulate, the Queensland Family and Child Commission, Yourtown and Bravehearts.
This year, I am also helping to run the Queensland Youth Parliament, which is a state-wide, non-partisan program that is run by the Y (otherwise known as the YMCA) that offers young people from every electorate the opportunity to have their voices heard through creating and crafting their own youth bills to pass through the Queensland Youth Parliament. This program offers an opportunity for young people to make a change on issues that matter to them.
I am also a Board Advisor for one of Australia’s only youth-run human rights charities, Voices of Influence Australia. Through our organisation, we aim to raise awareness of human rights and encourage everyone, particularly young people, to take action to ensure we are making the world a better, happier and safer place.
Who/What inspires you to do this amazing work?
What inspires me is all the amazing, driven women, especially young women, in this space who are doing inspiring community and advocacy work. My work has only been possible through the support and collaboration with others. Surrounding myself with ambitious young women constantly inspires me to strive and advocate for better.
One event that inspired me was when I was a digital delegate for the United Nation’s 65th Session on the Commission of the Status of Women where I worked alongside numerous other passionate women to advocate gender equality around the world. It was astounding to see the passion, intelligence and ambition of many other young women who demanded better for women.
