Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (15:33): Congratulations to the 95 outstanding young people and adult allies nominated for and winners of the City of Ballarat Youth Awards 2021. These important awards celebrate Ballarat’s inspirational young people and all they do to enrich our community. The awards recognise the resilience, compassion and leadership of our extraordinary young people across 11 different categories.

Well done to Jesse Mackay for winning the Challenge and Change Award, Aviva Channels and Matilda Myers for winning the Group Project Award for the Hire a Grandkid initiative, Will Stephens for winning the Influential Artist Award, Jerrica John for winning the Youth Volunteer Award, Hazel Lanyon for winning the Positive Leader Award, Will Tasic for winning the Compassion and Care Award, Jake Sbarbella for winning the Young Entrepreneur Award, Gabriel Gervasoni for winning the STEM Award, Ella Matthews for winning the Leadership in Sport Award, Padma Giri and Wayne Scanlon for winning the adult ally awards, Jerrica John for winning the 12- to 17-year-old major award and Bradley Woods for winning the 18- to 25-year-old major award.

Thank you to Ballarat youth ambassadors Gorgi Coghlan, Tim Bone, Sam McColl and Indya Hayes and the event MC, Ethan Cavanagh.

Click here to read more of my contributions in Parliament. To access further Hansard transcripts, head to the Parliament of Victoria website.