Rose Barton, a member of Orygen’s youth advisory council has won the emerging young artist award in Western Australia’s Cossack Art Awards.
The awards were hosted by the City of Karratha in Cossack, Western Australia on 17 July.
Rose received the award for her work titled Nothing About Us Without Us, a tribute to those who Rose has worked with as a member of the Orygen youth advisory council, Rose said.
“I wanted to make something that showed how much they inspire me,” she said.
“It’s a reminder for us all that what we’re doing is good, and it’s seen and it’s heard and it’s valued.”
Orygen’s youth advisory and research councils are comprised of young people located across Australia The young people bring their unique perspectives to Orygen and provide advice on a range of Orygen’s programs and activities, said Tharindu Jayadeva, youth participation program manager at Orygen.
“Since Orygen’s youth councils are spread around the country, we hold face-to-face meetings twice per year at our Parkville site,” Mr Jayadeva said.
“As great as our virtual connections are, it’s important for us to facilitate a space where our youth councils can meet in-person, learn from and alongside one another, and continue to collaborate with peers and other staff.”
Nothing About Us Without Us was inspired by Rose’s experience attending a face-to-face council meeting in May 2021.
“The face to faces are very intense in a good way. There’s a lot of emotion in the air and a lot of really powerful energy, I find,” Rose said.
“They [Orygen’s youth councils] represent such a wonderful, diverse cross-section of society, as they should and it’s so fabulous to be in a space where you have so many unique voices and the fact that those people are young – it’s just so inspiring.”
View the Cossack Art Awards website
Visit Rose’s website