We’re excited to introduce the 2025 Victorian Youth Congress – a group of young leaders and change makers.
There are 20 members in the 2025 Victorian Youth Congress. This includes 10 new members and 10 returning members. The members come from across the state and reflect the diversity of experience, ideas and identities of young people in Victoria.
This inspiring group of young people will advocate for their peers and speak up on the issues that matter to them to affect real change.
Meet the 2025 Victorian Youth Congress
Bios are written by individual Victorian Youth Congress Members and do not represent the Victorian Government.
Ava Kent – 13 (she/they)
New member
Ava is a year 8 student with a passion for LGBTQIA+ rights.
While part of the Victorian Youth Congress, she hopes to talk about how we can make Victoria a safer place for young people, especially queer folk.
She has seen the power of providing young people with a safe and accepting space, and how much it helps their wellbeing. She wants everyone to feel safe to be themselves.
She is delighted and grateful to have been appointed and looks forward to sharing her perspective and thoughts with others.
Misha Sardana – 13 (she/her)
New member
Misha is passionate about netball – both as a player and coach – and is also interested in how science can be applied to solve real-world problems.
As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, she hopes to help change the conversation around mental health. Her goal is to normalise mental health discussions among young people and make it easier for students to open up and seek help without feeling embarrassed or judged.
She is excited to contribute to something bigger than herself and to be part of a group that can create positive change.
Reyhaan Kakkar – 13 (he/him)
New member
Reyhaan is a year 8 student with a strong interest in reading, sports and problem solving.
As a member of the Knox Advisory Committee, he has seen how youth advocacy can create real impact. He believes young people should have a voice in shaping policies that affect them.
During his term, he hopes to focus on education equity, diversity, multiculturalism and mental health awareness. He believes every young person deserves access to quality education and understands we must bridge resource gaps to ensure all students can thrive.
He looks forward to collaborating with like-minded peers to address challenges faced by young people.
Zohaib Khan – 15 (he/him)
New member
Zohaib is a year 10 student at Kolbe Catholic College with a passion for music and songwriting.
He joined the Victorian Youth Congress to be a representative for his peers. He believes Australia's youth have valuable opinions and ideas to offer and should be more involved in political forums.
During his term, he hopes to talk about the state of the environment to encourage action and help make a safer world for future generations. He also hopes to tackle social issues such as bullying and harassment and systemic oppression.
Noah Thomas – 18 (he/him)
New member
Noah is a year 12 student at Elizabeth Murdoch College and is currently undertaking a vocational major while studying community services. As a member of his school’s Koorie group, his biggest passion is his culture.
He applied to the Victorian Youth Congress to be a voice for the state’s young people. His interests and passions include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speech, Treaty and educational rights, supporting young people to feel safe, bail laws and challenging stereotypes of Aboriginal people.
He looks forward to standing with like-minded peers and advocating for policies to reflect what young people in Victoria need.
Amira Mahmoud – 19 (she/her)
New member
Amira is a passionate advocate for improved mental health awareness. Her experiences as a first-generation African-Australian have influenced her understanding of mental health, especially within marginalised communities. She hopes to drive meaningful change to ensure that mental health is recognised as an essential part of wellbeing.
Amira is also passionate about youth justice, and believes a focus on early intervention, education, and support can help prevent cycles of youth crime.
She has seen how young people can feel powerless, struggling in systems that don’t cater to their needs. She wants to be part of a movement that empowers young people and ensures they have the resources they need to thrive.
Lauri Pavlovich – 20 (they/them)
New member
Lauri works as a researcher, project officer and peer support worker. They have completed a Double Diploma in Community Services and Counselling, and they are currently studying a Bachelor of Youth Work.
Lauri is passionate about using their lived experience to inform systems change and advocacy.
During their term, they will advocate for better mental health support, access to alternative education pathways, and stronger protections and representation for marginalised groups – in particular transgender, disabled and chronically ill young people.
They are excited to listen to and learn from other VYC members. They look forward to engaging in creative solutions for complex problems.
Ayanna Verenga – 22 (she/her)
New member
Ayanna is a young Zimbabwean woman studying a double degree in Law and Media Communications. She works at a student services institution dedicated to providing education and employment opportunities to young Victorians.
She is passionate about advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion – especially for marginalised groups like migrants, LGBTQ+ youth and people of colour.
During her term she hopes to discuss mental health challenges among marginalised youth who may face barriers to receiving support. She also hopes to explore ways we can create accessible, inclusive youth spaces.
She looks forward to learning how to effectively collaborate with government bodies and community organisations to make meaningful change for young Victorians.
Cass Hall – 21
New member
Cass is passionate about politics and using their lived experience of homelessness to help other people facing similar situations. They currently work part time in lived experience and youth advisory roles.
Cass joined the Victorian Youth Congress to use their first-hand insights to help steer services and policies to uplift people in need.
During their term, Cass hopes to increase understanding of youth homelessness among the public and policymakers. They will also focus on intersecting issues such as affordable housing and public infrastructure.
They look forward to making positive connections and learning more about the behind-the-scenes processes of parliament.
Lily Brasch – 23 (she/her)
New member
Lily lives on Wurundjeri country in north-east Melbourne and enjoys cooking and being in nature. She has a Bachelor of Arts and currently works in social services.
Lily applied to the Victorian Youth Congress because she believes in active participation in our democracy.
She looks forward to discussing issues that impact young Victorians, including housing and the cost-of-living crisis. She is also interested in improving supports for vulnerable children and young people, and addressing gendered violence.
She believes young people have a deep and unique understanding of the world. She hopes to bring awareness to this perspective, so policymakers better understand the experiences and priorities of young people.
Wilbur Machado – 17 (he/him)
Returning member
Wilbur was born in India and moved to Australia at the age of 3. He has developed a passion for leadership and change-making through various roles such as being the current School Captain of Nossal High School, the President of its Student Representative Council in 2024 as well as being a past member of the Casey Youth Action Committee.
Wilbur is excited to work with the Victorian Youth Congress to help develop solutions for issues facing young people in Victoria.
As an immigrant, he feels that it is important that Australia embraces and supports its ever-growing multicultural population, to ensure a just and fair Australia. He also feels strongly about the importance of all aspects of education in ensuring that young people are able to achieve their full potential.
Neerja Singh - 19 (she/her)
Returning member
Neerja is a second-year student at the University of Melbourne.
She serves on the advisory board and collaborates with the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Headspace, ProjectRockit and her local councils on youth-focused projects and policy decision-making. Additionally, she is the founder of Youth 4 Youth Inc., a startup nonprofit based in Melbourne's West.
Neerja is excited to work with the Victorian Youth Congress team to address youth violence and shift the narrative toward youth safety.
She is passionate about improving access to education, healthcare and mental health supports, especially for those from multicultural backgrounds.
Samantha Straw – 16 (she/her)
Returning member
Samantha is a year 11 student living in Gippsland passionate about addressing the factors leading to social isolation and the importance of young people's access to support services and resources.
She looks forward to hearing from and working with the other Victorian Youth Congress members to highlight the experiences, issues and voices of young people living in regional and rural areas.
She hopes to discuss the need for both general and supportive services and resources to foster connection and prevent social isolation of youth.
Praneel Kumar – 17 (he/him)
Returning member
After participating in various leadership roles in his community over the past year, such as being a Rural Youth Ambassador, Praneel was inspired to help people his age all around Australia.
During his time on the Victorian Youth Congress, he hopes to address the issue of marginalisation of regional/rural youth and advocate for equality and recognition.
Praneel hopes to form lifelong connections with his fellow congress members and overall, create change for young people in any way that he can.
Kurin Lelean – 23 (he/him)
Returning member
Kurin was raised and lives in rural Victoria. He has a passion for using his lived experience to better the lives of young folk in the present and future.
He currently works in the youth sector and is a trained youth worker, creating and facilitating programs that empower young people to dream and achieve big.
He has experience working in sexual health, disability, queer health, disaster management/recovery, and First Nations rights, using his background and earned knowledge to support and bolster young people's voices.
Keyara D’Souza – 17 (she/her)
Returning member
Keyara believes that being part of Victoria’s multicultural community allows her to embrace all the aspects that bring people together. She is a four-year and ongoing member of the Youth Advisory Committee of Melton City Council where she engages in youth leadership and advocacy.
Keyara believes that change creates pathways to progress. She looks forward to working with others in the Victorian Youth Congress who are equally keen to make an impact of progressive change in our community.
She hopes to discuss the issue of youth violence and mental health concerns amongst young people.
Sarah McCamish – 23 (she/her)
Returning member
Sarah was raised on Yuin Country in coastal New South Wales, and has lived on Wadawurrung Country for the last 5 years. Though she completed formal studies with majors in international relations and politics, she now works in the youth sector, specializing in youth development. Sarah has a passion for lived experience and advocacy work, using her personal earned knowledge to support young people to speak on what they believe in and make change in their communities.
Ammar Mahmoud – 15 (he/him)
Returning member
Ammar is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment and community-driven change. Passionate about amplifying young voices, he works to ensure youth are involved in decisions that shape their futures.
He has led career-focused projects, co-designed community programs, and has led advocacy for human rights, including for the people of Palestine. Recognized as Hume Young Advocate of the Year, Ammar is committed to changing perceptions of young people and fostering inclusive opportunities.
As a member of the Victorian Youth Congress, he is eager to keep working with other young people to drive meaningful change.
Mahsa Nabizada – 21 (she/her)
Returning member
Mahsa is a Melbourne-based producer at ABC, currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Melbourne with a focus on psychology and neuroscience.
With a deep-seated passion for education accessibility, storytelling, gender equality, and climate change advocacy, Mahsa has been actively involved in community service and nonprofit work from an early age. She is particularly focused on ensuring access to quality healthcare and mental health services for young people.
She aims to amplify the voices of young people across our state, ensuring their perspectives are integral in shaping policies that address their unique needs and challenges.
Billy Chen – 19 (he/him)
Returning member
Billy is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. He is a member of the Western Chances STAR Committee, was Chair of the Brimbank Youth Council in 2023 and also won the Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award in 2023.
Coming from a socio-economically disadvantaged part of Melbourne, he is passionate about ensuring that young people have the same opportunities to succeed in life, regardless of their upbringing.
During his term, he would like to work with young people who may come from marginalised backgrounds to understand their experiences and to ensure that they feel supported.