What you need to know
At Valley Youth, young people are the centre of our work.
We are passionate to ensure young people are heard, engaged and empowered to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Our vision is a Moonee Valley where young people are thriving
The voices of young people guide our work, and are embedded into MV2040. This is Moonee Valley City Council’s long-term plan for the next two decades.
MV2040 was shaped by the community and the kind of future they hope for in Moonee Valley. It also considers trends, specific objectives and consultation findings from young people.
Our Statement of Commitment
At Valley Youth we are committed to uplifting and empowering our community by providing safe, inclusive and accessible programs, activities and events for young people of all identities and abilities, particularly those who are marginalised.
We are accountable to these commitment’s by continually engaging with community and developing our practice through training as well as seeking out knowledge and resources. If you feel that there are ways we can improve our access and inclusion practices we encourage open and respectful conversation.
Meet the Young Communities Team
SENIOR COORDINATOR UMARKOO WAYI, EQUITY, ACCESS AND YOUTH
Ilz
PRONOUNS: SHE / HER / HERS
- What I do is - I have a fun job that enables me to have oversight of various areas across Council including the Young Communities team, the community grants program, and various social policy-based portfolios including disability and access, community safety and prevention of violence, reconciliation and diversity and inclusion.
- I’m into progressive rock, symphonic metal and soft metal and rock music! I love spending time with my family, and I love fashion.
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Queens Park & Woodlands Park.
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me with my beautiful family at markets and parks around Melbourne!
- I love working with young people because It’s fun, challenging and rewarding! I especially love working with staff who have so much passion for young people and youth issues.
Ilz is a qualified Social Worker and is half way through completing her Masters in Public Policy. She has worked in local government for over a decade in various roles including community development, community engagement, youth, social policy and service delivery. Prior to local government she worked in the not-for-profit sector supporting and advocating for the needs of young people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. She worked in program management and sector development delivering tailored training programs for community service organisations and government departments.
TEAM LEADER YOUNG COMMUNITIES
Nic
PRONOUNS: SHE / HER / HERS
- What I do is... I am the very lucky person who gets to lead the amazing young communities’ team here at MVCC. My role is to provide leadership, supervision, support and mentoring to the young communities’ staff, and manage the day-to-day operations. I also get to pop in to all the programs and support many of the projects and events that we offer.
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Queens Park, Puckle St, or along the Maribyrnong River.
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me running around after my young people, supporting women's sport, doing pilates, and shopping!
- I love working with young people because I feel it is a privilege to be a part of a young person’s journey, I really enjoy helping young people navigate through all the highs and lows in life and supporting their existing strengths to guide them toward growth and development. I really like looking outside the box and listening to young people’s perspectives.
Hello, my name is Nic and I am new to working in local government. I am a proud mum to 2 young people and we also have 2 fur babies a rescue beagle/maltese dog and a mini lop rabbit. I have a tertiary background in Nursing, Community Services and Social Work. I have worked for the Department of Education in a variety of positions for the last 15 years, and prior to that I have worked in the community youth sector in a variety of areas including, youth justice, youth housing, family violence, adolescent foster care and youth employment and training.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFICER
Emma
PRONOUNS: SHE / HER / HERS
- What I do is coordinate the L2P program. The program matches learner drivers with volunteer mentor drivers to support them to gain experience on the road and take their driving test.
- I’m into exploring new places, drinking coffee, and fostering animals.
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Queens Park, or somewhere along the Maribyrnong River.
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me catching up with friends for a walk or a coffee, or trying to practise my photography.
- I love working with young people because I think every young person has so much potential, and I love their enthusiasm and creativity.
Emma joined Moonee Valley City Council in 2022. She has a background in community development and youth engagement work.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Liam
PRONOUNS: HE/HIM
- What I do is - What I do is - I’m the lead worker for our Young People's Committee, Transition Well Program, and Western Region Youth Partnership which support young people across our local government area.
- I’m into Greyhounds (not racing them) and boxing
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Queens Park saying hi to the many wildlife that call the lake home.
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me Out and about with my greyhound Delilah
- I love working with young people because when you have more than you need, you build a bigger table, not a higher fence. Young people have an insight and experience they encounter once in a lifetime. As a youth worker it is a privilege to be able to assist in their navigation of these years.
Liam is a recent addition to Moonee Valley City Council, though he has been working with young people for 23 years. With a strong background in working with disengaged and marginalised youth, Liam comes with a raft of experience and skills.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Morgan
PRONOUNS: SHE / HER / HERS
- What I do is support our Rainbow Valley program for young LGBTIQA+ people who want to have fun, make friends and work on exciting projects together, and our Avenue Productions program for young people passionate about planning creative events for the community
- I’m into exploring new ways to be creative, sourdough baking and making music
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Brother Hen for food, and my favourite bench along the Maribyrnong River for some time in the sun.
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me hanging out with my dogs (or thinking about hanging out with my dogs)
- I love working with young people because there is so much passion, enthusiasm, and innovation. It is such a privilege that I get to support young people to actualise their goals and visions!
Morgan has been working in youth & community services roles for about 7 years, mostly in program development and facilitation. She spends a lot of her free time creating art, making music, and hanging out with her three dogs.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Alex
PRONOUNS: SHE / HER / HERS
- What I do is create opportunities for young people to care for the environment, live more sustainably, and develop their skills though our Grassroots Program. I also work on other fun projects like Valley Youth Studios, high school engagement, school holiday activities, and more!
- I’m into reading, making art and adventuring.
- My go-to place to hang in Moonee Valley is Queens Park because I love eating lunch under the beautiful trees and watching the ducks. Olivia Springs café is a close second though!
- When I’m not at work you’ll find me attempting to cook something new (and mostly failing but sometimes succeeding!)
- I love working with young people because we are passionate, creative and are changing the world for the better.
Alex has worked in youth services for six years and was once a Valley Youth program participant herself! She has held roles in community development and visual communications and currently supports the delivery of youth-led environmental and creative projects. Alex is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to engage in their community, connect with their peers, learn new skills, express themselves and improve their wellbeing.