Commissioner's Participate Award

The Commissioner for Children and Young People Participate Award was established in 2010 and is part of the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia's Youth Awards program. 

The Award recognises exceptional young individuals aged 10-17 who actively contribute to their community and exhibit peer leadership in their chosen domain such as education, sports, student council, community invovment, work, extracurricular activities, and more.

Winner 2025

Sofia Ballerini
Since moving to the Pilbara and starting distance education, Sofia has risen above school pressures and grown stronger. She now dedicates her time to supporting at-risk Indigenous youth. These experiences have shaped her purpose, built resilience, and sparked a fire to create real change.

Congratulations also to our finalists

Amindi Elvadura

Amindi is a passionate young leader committed to social impact. As a member of Subiaco Youth Voice and secretary of Perth Modern’s Rotary Club, she advocates for youth and supports local causes. She volunteers at Stirling Markets and prepares meals for the Salvation Army. Through Seed of Hope, she delivers care bags to Perth’s homeless community. Amindi’s empathy, leadership, and dedication to service make her a powerful force for positive change.

Amy Duong

Amy has overcome lack of opportunities and support to Co-president/Vice-president of a clean water nonprofit organisation through lived experience of this struggle herself, which has funded clean water access for 350+ families in Malawi. Alongside she has launched one national student opportunity platforms, and reform school leadership. She has held roles with Headspace, WA Youth Parliament, WAMUN, and Lions Club, driven to create accessible opportunities for youth.

Lily Gaulton

Lily Gaulton is an 11-year-old disability advocate with cerebral palsy and autism. She advocates for accessibility in schools and venues, including lobbying her school to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. She contributed to the School Act Reform and participates in co-design projects to amplify youth access needs in education and public spaces.

Winner 2024

Oliver Lim
Oliver (Ollie) has lived with lupus (a chronic health condition) since he was 18 months old. A strong advocate for disability, Ollie has raised over $100,000 for Telethon as the Little Telethon Star 2021.

He supports various causes, including MSK (Musculoskeletal Australia), Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA and advocates against fundings cuts with the Youth Disability Advocacy Network.

As a City of Melville Youth Advisory Committee member, he secured a grant for community inclusion workshops. 

Ollie has participated in several research projects with Curtin University and The University of South Australia and has been a finalist for multiple awards.

Ollie is also the WA Young Person of the Year 2024.

Congratulations also to our finalists

Victoria Hill
Victoria is a 16-year-old who is passionate about solving world problems. Aspiring to be a woman in government, Victoria is active in her school's debate team and competed with the WA State Team in Adelaide.

In 2023, she represented WA on the United Nations Youth Australia Aotearoa Leadership Tour and is applying for the 2024/25 United Nations Youth Young Diplomats Tour to connect with significant opportunities and amplify youth voices.

 Victoria is also involved with Youth Parliament, Project Rockit, The Telstra Youth Foundation and local advisory councils, and was featured in the WA Catalyst Youth Week publication.

Laquade Dalbin

Laquade, a 12-year-old boy from South Hedland who identifies as Aboriginal, was the first participant in Now Sounds Hedland, an intercultural arts project that fosters artistic skills and combats social isolation among young people from First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

Taking on leadership roles, Laquade supported peers and excelled at the project's final performance,confidently rapping his verse.

Since then, he has performed at Hedland's ‘Welcome to Hedland’ event and Scribblers Festival and was invited by the Town of Port Hedland to emcee the Hedland’s Got Talent event for over 100 people.

Lily Gaulton

Lily is a 10 year old who was born prematurely and has cerebral palsy, autism, ARFID, Eosinophilic Oesophagitis, and allergies.

Despite challenges, Lily remains outgoing and happy. She has made significant contributions by co-designing the Move to Improve program for Perth Children's Hospital and engaging in a book review project with Children and Young People with Disability Australia.

Lily was the youngest panelist on disability representation in literature and co-created a booklet to aid teachers in understanding disabilities.

She's also featured in a Royal Life Saving WA swim program and is writing a book to promote disability awareness and inclusion.

Visit YACWA’s website for more information about the WA Youth Awards.