Taking a chance to step into something new is a challenge at any age, but when you are a teenager juggling the final years of school and the pressures of planning for future study and imminent adulthood, it can seem particularly daunting.
Atlas Pillinger (20) took the leap into volunteering as a high school student, hoping to spruce up his resume with some hands-on experience.
After answering an advert for new members of the Cockburn Youth Advisory Collective (CYAC), Atlas has ended up with a raft of new skills, growing confidence and some fantastic friends and networks.
On Australia Day, he was named the City of Cockburn 2025 Youth Community Citizen of the Year.
And with plans to continue his work with the YAC (which has a youthful waiting list) while he studies Psychology at Curtin University, the North Coogee local has proven he is Quintessentially Cockburn!
Described as a tireless advocate for the Cockburn community by Cockburn Youth Centre staff, Atlas provided practical, supportive leadership during the organisation and staging of two significant annual youth events for the past two years, the Rotary Spring Fair, and the PRIDE & Progress Ball which provides a safe and joyful space for LGBTQIA+ youth to celebrate their identities.
“Atlas has an innovative approach to community service,” City of Cockburn Youth Development Officer Kerri Mulford said.
“Atlas is an unsung hero whose remarkable contributions often go unrecognised because of his natural tendency to shy away from the spotlight.
“He leads with compassion, empathy, and integrity, consistently standing up for fairness and equity. Whether it's through volunteer work or advocacy for inclusivity, Atlas models kindness and a strong willingness to mentor others, consistently elevating his peers rather than seeking personal recognition.”
This year Atlas was a peer researcher with the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia, gathering and analysing youth perspectives to inform policies that directly impact young people in Cockburn.
He also provided written submissions to the State Government's Youth Action Plan, ensuring the voices of young people were embedded in state-level decision-making processes.
Atlas said once introduced to the programs at Cockburn Youth Centre, he was awakened to how tight-knit the Cockburn community was, especially in the area of youth.
“I knew nothing of this world and then suddenly I could see the role the youth centre and its services play, and started to get to know the young people that rely on them,” Atlas said.
“It was great to see it in action, to see what a healthy community needs and how being inclusive is so important for young people.
“If it wasn’t for the youth centre, many young people would have nowhere to go after school. It provides a safe, fun place to hang out with their friends, before going home.
“The PRIDE & Progress Ball is an extension of that philosophy. It is so important for young LGBTQIA+ people in our community to have an event where they can enjoy a celebration among friends in a safe environment where everyone fits in, and where everyone is welcome.”
While listing the youth centre as one of his favourite places in Cockburn, due to its positive, welcoming vibe, Atlas loves spending time at Manning Park.
He values the calming effect of the unique natural environment and its biodiversity on simple walks with a much-loved dog who rarely wants to venture as far as he does.
Article by Michele Nugent
Media & Communications Officer
City of Cockburn
Telephone: 9411 3551
Email:
[email protected]