These topics came up as National Youth Week started with a bang yesterday at the Southern Downs Youth Engagement Forum at the Warwick Town Hall.

The free event was held by the Southern Downs Regional Council, headspace Warwick and Southern Downs Industry Education Association as a platform for young people across the region to discuss relevant issues.

Council Youth Development Officer Hailey Cosh said the forum was a chance to hear from young people the concerns they had for the community.

"It gives us a sense of direction, from a council perspective as we finish up with the Youth Action Plan for the 2015 to 2016 financial year," Ms Cosh said.

"We're getting that diversity - we've got people from Allora and Stanthorpe, and Warwick and surrounds," SDRC community development officer Pam Burley added.

Participants worked with youth service workers to identify problems for young people, as well as learning leadership and management skills.

Attendees at the forum together identified mental health, homelessness, crime and vandalism, and drugs and alcohol as the most pressing issues for young people in the community.

Youth leader Liana Allen said getting involved in the region's events was also something to be addressed.

"Not a lot of young people are participating in activities in the community, so that's an issue," she said.

Mrs Burley said the forum was aimed at empowering young people to make a difference in the community.

"The first part is giving young people a voice and hearing what their issues are, and then hearing what they think can be done to solve these issues" Mrs Burley said.

"For me, a marker of success would be to have them feel empowered and realise they do have the power to make a difference."

National Youth Week

April 10-19

Various activities and events across the Southern Downs. Visit http://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au and click on Youth Zone for details.