Meet Youth Advisory Group member Oliver

November 11, 2022

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is a new initiative that provides very special siblings between the ages of 14 to 25 a platform to be heard. The group is made up of nine enthusiastic, motivated, and inspiring young adult and adolescent siblings eager to express their thoughts and ideas in bold, creative ways.   

In this series, our Youth Advisory Group members have interviewed each other to learn a bit more about their day-to-day life experiences and time with Very Special Kids.  

Could you give me your name, age, and current level of education?
My name is Oliver, and I am 19 years old. I am at Deakin University studying a Bachelor of Arts, doing history and literature. 

What is a fun fact about yourself? 
I used to wear an eyepatch to correct my lazy eye. 

If you feel safe doing so, could you share a bit about your sibling and their story? 
My brother’s name is Jonah. He was two years older than me, and he was born with epilepsy. He passed away at the age of 14 in 2015. 

Why do you think it’s important for young people to have a voice? 
For me, living with someone who had a disability while I was young has had such a significant impact on all areas of my life. For me to have a voice and help change the way that people understand how to help those who have disabilities is always going to be worth it.