CHANTEL Sustic, 19, is the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament Member for Redlands.
Ms Sustic is one of 93 young Queenslanders aged between 15 and 25 who have been selected to represent their community at the youth forum for 2016.
State Member for Redlands Matt McEachan said the future was in good hands with people like Chantel.
“Youth members are the best examples that youth aren’t disengaged but passionate advocates and the face of an incredible generation,” Mr McEachan said.
Ms Sustic said she looked forward to being in the role to better understand and engage with the Redlands as a community, particularly youth.
“The things I love most about my community are that when encouraged we can come together to support the various causes we need,’’ she said.
Ms Sustic will also serve on the health and disability committee and said there were specific issues she hoped to address which hit closer to home, such as lack of employment opportunities for people with a disability and mental illness.
“I’m also passionate about access for those with a disability, accessibility to public places, accessibility to opportunities and accessibility to simply just wanting to live and have the same rights as everyone else,” Ms Sustic said.
The YMCA youth parliament has been going since 1996.
It is a non-partisan program designed to give young people the opportunity to learn through experience about the role and operations of government and empower them to have a positive impact in their local community and upon state government policies.
