Lifestyle: Meet Caitlin Lucas, Changemaker

Born in Albany, formerly of Busselton and now a student in Bunbury, Caitlin Lucas is well and truly a South West teen.

Far from being the average teenager though, Caitlin’s bubbly personality, dedication to the community and passion to drive change recently earned her a position in the Statewide Ministerial Youth Advisory Council.

Growing up in the South West meant Caitlin was exposed to a number of regional youth issues which she noticed and felt the need to address.

“I went to the same school from kindergarten to Year 10 so moving to Manea (Senior College) for this year was a big deal,” she said.

“I met my history teacher who supported my community involvement and inspired me to think deeper about other people.”

Clearly standing out as a young girl with a strong desire to make a difference, Caitlin applied for the youth council earlier this year and went through a rigorous process which involved writing an essay about her personal life and goals.

“I read my acceptance letter during lunch time and I was so overwhelmed,” Caitlin said.

“I immediately ran to tell my history teacher who encouraged me to apply.

“I am thrilled to have such an opportunity and a chance to learn and develop my skills in an area I am very interested in.

“My parents have also always pushed me to not be short-sighted and use what I have in bigger ways.”

Finally equipped with a role to be a voice for regional youth, Caitlin is determined to bring about change in three areas of major concern for herself and her peers:

The difficulty of accessing youth programs and extra-curricular activities.

The hardship of furthering education due to the cost of moving to Perth.

Unemployment levels among young people in rural areas.

Appointed as a member of the council for a three-year term, Caitlin also wants to effectively communicate the problems of other young people so they can be solved with help from the Government.

Describing herself as a young person who “strives to be a conscientious member of the community”, Caitlin enjoys participating in a wide range of extracurricular activities all around the South West including sport, music, youth groups, volunteer charity work and social activities.

Aiming to study international relations or law at a tertiary level, Caitlin remains eager to continue making a difference in her future career.