5 February 2019

Layla West, a 17-year-old student from Mount St Joseph Girls’ College, Altona, has been awarded the title of Hobsons Bay City Council's 2019 Young Citizen of the Year for her work in junior sports development and Down syndrome awareness.

Layla became involved in volunteer work at a young age. Her first role was as an assistant coach with Altona Auskick when she was only 13 years’ old. She now heads the fastest growing group, the ‘Super Stars’, made up of girls aged 5–12 who are new to football.

‘Despite her young age, Layla has influenced the lives of dozens of children and young people through her volunteer work’, said Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Councillor Jonathon Marsden.

Layla is also a passionate advocate for Down syndrome awareness, and has assisted a team her brother Reid, who has Down syndrome, used to play for.

‘Having Reid has shown me that education is really needed in the world of people with disabilities’, she said. ‘You’ve got to see the person before the disability.’