JOURNALIST Ben Kimber has been selected to take part in the 2015 Youth Parliament Press Gallery.
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Mr Kimber, along with the other 17 young people chosen for this year's program will spend the next six months honing their political reporting skills under the guidance of experts from Monash University and the YMCA.
They will cover the three days of Victoria's Youth Parliament in June, preparing stories and pitching them to media.
At the end of the program, Youth Gallery participants will produce a 2015 Youth Parliament Press Book with the stories, interviews, profiles and photos the team published over the course of the Youth Parliament.
Mr Kimber is one of a small number from country Victoria selected to take part in the program.
"For the past two and a half years I have worked at the Stawell Times-News and The Ararat Advertiser covering local politics and a whole range of issues that have concerned our communities," he said.
"I see this as a great opportunity, it is an experience that I believe will provide me with both professional and personal benefits."
Born in Melton, Mr Kimber grew up in Stawell and was primary educated at St Patrick's Primary School before completing his secondary education at Marian College in Ararat.
Mr Kimber studied a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University from 2009 through to 2011 where he graduated with a degree in Journalism and Politics and Policy Studies.
During his studies Mr Kimber completed several internships including at the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in London.
As Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos revealed the names of the 18 young journalists selected for the 2015 Youth Parliament Press Gallery at a book launch in Melbourne, she also announced a $100,000 funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government to support the program for the next four years.
"We are securing the program for another four years, helping young aspiring journalists to increase their skills, make media connections and get a job in this competitive industry," she said.
The Youth Parliament Press Gallery, run by YMCA Victoria, is the only program of its kind in Australia, providing young people with the chance to work in the fast-paced world of political journalism.
"The gallery will report and comment on all the action from Youth Parliament, giving them a real sense of what being a journalist is like," Ms Mikakos said.
"I wish all this year's Youth Press Gallery members the greatest success in their future media careers."