Currently working as a Policy Advisor in the Australian Parliament, this position will see Jacob advocating within YouThrive to honour the important place of young rural people in the organisation.
Youthrive Victoria Board chair Bruce Anderson summarised the important role as one that ensured young rural Victorians’ needs and interests were shared regularly with directors.
“The role also aims to provide authentic board experience to members of the alumni,” Mr Anderson said.
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Jacob said as one of the early recipients of the Foundation Scholarships he had witnessed the organisation grow and had been involved in its various programs.
“(I am) passionate about rural policy and believe YouThrive Victoria plays a significant role in promoting regional and remote life in all its diversity,” Jacob said.
“It's an organisation that primarily exists to support young rural people become leaders in their respective communities.
“There's a significant scholarship and financial support program.
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“In a short period of time it has established itself as an entrepreneurial and pioneering organisation in terms of offering young people in small towns the knowledge they need to succeed.
“And it was a pretty courageous decision made by the board to bring on young people with experience of the organisation to a board level.
“For me personally, it is an opportunity to give back to an organisation that has given me so much.”
When Jacob arrived in Australia with his family in the early 2000s they decided to settle in Benalla after falling in love with the town.
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“We were new migrants to Australia and my parents made the somewhat odd decision to move to a small country town,” Jacob said.
“Most migrants head for bigger cities, but we really liked Benalla.”
Due to that decision Jacob experienced first-hand the support that rural communities can provide and was active in many local community organisations, including the St Vincent De Paul Society.
After completing his VCE at FCJ College and achieving dux, Jacob began his study of Laws and Science at Monash University.
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During his time at university, Jacob garnered professional and extracurricular experience; impressively being selected into Monash University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Ancora Imparo Student Leadership program in 2013.
After graduating, Jacob has had professional experience as a senior associate in a leading strategic communications and social impact firm as well as at the office of Senator Patrick Dodson, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous affairs, since 2018.
Mr Anderson said he was delighted to have strong advocates sharing the views of young rural and regional adults at the board table.
Jacob will be supported in his new role by the board, and although currently based in Western Australia, he "still calls Benalla home.”
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