In September, adult residents voted for Wollongong City Councillors. This week, teenagers are voting at ballot boxes in high schools across the city for representatives on Wollongong Youth Forum, the only one of its kind in NSW.

It's the second year that Wollongong City Council has partnered with the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) to democratically elect a forum for ages 12 to 17 as part of the Young Mayors Program. Polling opened today, November 4 and will close on November 13.

Results will be announced on November 15, after which the 12 teenagers elected will spend a year working with Council on various issues.

Giving young people not only a public voice but a platform to put their ideas into practice is a concept spreading around the world but relatively new in Australia, with only five programs across the country. We gave our local campaigners the chance to share their stories and – just like the mayoral candidates in the recent council elections – each tackled the same questions.

Thanks to Stevie, Sean, Charlie, Fatima, Ethan, Zelda, Mariam, Alyssa, Enerel and Jayden for their replies.

Meet a candidate: Enerel Bayarkhuu

My name is Enerel. I am one of the nominees of the Young Mayors Program.

Why do you want to be part of the Wollongong Youth Forum?

I want to be part of the Wollongong Youth Forum because I want to create after-school programs, clubs and sessions for young people. There are already many programs you can participate in, but some are expensive. So what I would like to do is for free. Passions, hobbies and dreams bond people together, whether old or young, it is a fire that lights in us. So I want that fire to grow bigger and brighter, especially for young people, because they are the future.

What are the biggest issues facing Wollongong's young people today?

The biggest issues facing young people today are transport, cost of living, employment and mental health.

If you could deliver one key project in your year, what would it be?

If I could deliver one key project in my year, it would be to create a program that encourages young people to engage actively in their classes, explore new learning opportunities daily, and feel confident asking for help whenever they need it.

Read more candidate Q&As with Stevie, Sean, Charlie, Fatima, Ethan, Zelda, Mariam, Alyssa, Enerel and Jayden

For more information about the Wollongong Youth Forum, visit the FYA website