Young Womens Advisory Group YWAG
ERA’s Young Women’s Advisory Group (YWAG) is made up of ten young women and non-binary people aged 16-30 from across Australia, working together to bring young women and non-binary people’s perspectives and experiences to ERA’s advocacy and driving research and advocacy projects relevant to the lives of young people of marginalised genders.
YWAG has regular input into ERA’s advocacy and policy positions, participates in our policy work groups and develops papers for ERA’s projects. YWAG is an excellent opportunity for young women, cis women, trans women, non-binary and trans-femme identifying people to access training and experience in policy and advocacy.
YWAG’s most recent focus has been on strengthening sex education in Australia through their project: Let’s Talk: Young Wom*n’s Views on Sex Education. Let’s Talk captures and amplifies the voices and experiences of young women in relation to sex education in order to improve comprehensive sexuality and respectful relationships education in the national curriculum. You can find YWAG’s reports from the 2015 survey here and here
Meet Our YWAG Members
Claire Bertholli
Claire Bertholli (she/her) lives on the lands of the Awabakal people in Newcastle. She is a disability advocate and youth worker. She has been a member of ERA’s YWAG since 2022. Claire loves to involve herself in several activism projects simultaneously. She uses her education and practice in sociology and anthropology in tandem with her lived experience of being a wheelchair user with a physical disability to influence social and community change.
Claire believes that structural change occurs through collaboration. She has been involved in projects and initiatives with People with Disabilities Australia, Youth Action NSW, YWCA Australia the NDIS and University of Newcastle. Claire also believes her best work comes from engaging with her peers.
She is a Youth and Policy Advisor with Woman with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) where she contributes to the development and distribution of policy reviews, discussion forums, educational resources as well as fun networking and social events. As member of the Youth Committee for the Hunter (YC4H), she engages in projects surrounding the lack of infrastructure connectivity and support programs that enable youth to participate in the region. Claire was an active participant in the Young Leaders Program with Children and Young People with Disability (CYDA) in 2021/22 and currently Implements that knowledge as an Ad Hoc Facilitator with CYDA.
Claire has always committed herself to viewing the world through an intersectional feminist lens. She undertook the YWCA board traineeship position in 2021/22 and hopes to carry through her collaborative outlook to her involvement with ERA YWAG.
In her spare time she enjoys getting her wheels dirty on outdoor walks or in her beach wheelchair, enjoying carb heavy food with friends and family, sharing pop culture recommendations and being in the thick of it at live music events.
Brianna Delahunty
(she/her)
Bri (She/Her) is based on the lands of the Eora Nation (Sydney) and currently works as a Manager of Policy and Research at Chief Executive Women and has been a YWAG member since 2020. She has a Masters of International Law and is currently completing a Juris Doctor. She has a background in policy and research, with experience in Refugee and women’s rights advocacy. She has a strong focus on intersectional projects that focus on equity and social justice. When she’s not working, she is spending time with her cats, her friends and reading a good book.
Charlotte Dirou
Charlotte (she/they) is from Meanjin (Brisbane), and currently works as a Communications and Education Practitioner at Women’s Health and Equality Queensland. With a background in interactive and visual design, she is interested in the role that technology, design and social media can have in making social impact and creating healthy and safe communities for all.
In her current role, she works with community members to educate on and raise awareness of gender-based violence prevention and gender equality in Queensland, with a focus on youth programs. She is also a part of the yourtown Pride Youth Advisory Group, working with other young queer people nationally to undertake community projects and connections, and is the Secretariat for Ending Violence Against Women Queensland.
When they aren’t working, you can find Charlotte reading, exploring vegan restaurants, or hanging out with her two cats.
Alexandra Hatzivalsamis
(she/her)
Alexandra (she/her) is a Darwin born, emerging leader dedicated to advancing the rights of women and non-binary people. Studying a double degree in Laws and Commerce, whilst working for the Northern Territory Public Sector, Alexandra has been with the YWAG since 2021. Having previously been a member of the YWCA Australia’s first Young Women’s Council, Alexandra gets her motivation from like-minded individuals, listening to their lived experiences and stories, getting riled up by injustice and minor inconveniences. Alexandra thrives in stakeholder and community engagement and is passionate about capacity building initiatives for women and young people, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Alexandra loves coffee and when she’s not trying to do it all (at once) and get “enough” sleep, she is looking for exciting new experiences and trying to keep her houseplants alive.