THE 2015 Southern Downs National Youth Week celebrations could not have ended on a better note with more than 20 young people lining up to take part in the inaugural Youth Disaster Games.

Participants were shown the basic disaster skills from local emergency service personnel including how to use a fire hose and conduct CPR.

Then they split into teams and competed against each other.

Southern Downs Regional Council youth development officer Hailey Cosh said the event was a great success.

"We had great support from local emergency services for the idea with the Queensland Police Service, State Emergency Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service and Queensland Ambulance Service all keen to work with young people and give them a taste of what it's like to be on the frontline of a local disaster," she said.

"Many of the emergency personnel commented at the end of the event on the commitment and focus of the young people.

"The participants all gained skills and confidence to respond effectively in a natural disaster, at an emergency scene and working as an individual or with a team.

"We had hoped the event might even prompt some young people to think about a career in the emergency services and from our feedback we have been successful in this as well."

Ms Cosh said the theme for National Youth Week was 'it starts with us' and the disaster games demonstrated this perfectly - young people volunteering, gaining skills and participating in their community.

"These young people are the leaders and volunteers of the future and it was great to see their enthusiasm," she said.

Ms Cosh thanked the emergency personnel involved in the disaster games and supporting council staff, in particular Disaster Management Co-ordinator Mark Saunders for creating the games program and Community Development Officer Pam Burley and Volunteer Co-ordinator Bette Bonney for their assistance.

"Also huge thanks to Southern Downs Industry Education Association, and headspace Warwick for partnering with council in staging National Youth Week events for 2015."