The student leader won the Positive Youth Leader Award for his work leading his school mates to create backpacks filled with supplies to donate to children experiencing family violence.

He facilitated the creation of more than 70 Friendship Bags that were donated to WRISC Family Violence Support last year and is continuing with his efforts this year.

Each bag is filled with a teddy bear, a blanket, pencils, cards, pyjamas, a toy, comic books, toothbrush and toothpaste to, as Lachie said, 'try to give them a sense of home when they have had to leave'.

READ MORE: Thinking of the kids suffering domestic violence trauma

More bags will be donated to WRISC through this year's donation drive that has expanded to involve the junior school school as well as senior students.

Lachie said creating the Friendship Bags has helped his school community talk more about family violence.

"I think it has opened up an avenue for conversation," he said.

"It is important to get an education of what is acceptable and for a man to know their responsibilities of not harming people close to them and also being able to identify the red flags."

Lachie said he was surprised when he heard he was nominated for the award, but encouraged other young people to make change for something they believed in.

"If you see there is something you think you can help out with, just give it your best crack," he said.

Nominations for the 2019 Ballarat Youth Awards are now open.

The awards are an opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution young people make to community.

2019 Youth Award Ambassador owner of Griffinburger Sam Griffin spoke at the launch of the youth awards launch on July 19 while Triple J presenter Bridget Hustwaite sent in a video message. Both have been identified as positive and influential role models.

The awards are organised by the Ballarat Youth Council and are judged by both youth and members of the community.

Ballarat Youth Council member Tadc Lee participated in the judging of the youth awards last year.

He said it was great young people themselves had such influence on the awards.

"Usually with award ceremonies like this it would be about youth but not by youth," he said.

"The awards show we matter and have made a difference. You don't have to be voting or working to matter to your community."

Around 140 young people have been nominated for the youth awards in past years.

City of Ballarat co-ordinator youth development Craig Donaldson said the motto for the awards was 'we are now'.

"Often young people are referred to as they will do great things into the future, they are the next generation. One of the themes youth council has identified is young people are actually doing great things in the community now, so this is about recognising what they are doing," he said.

There are 11 categories for the youth awards, including young entrepreneur, STEM, positive youth leader, challenge and change, compassion and care and leadership in sport.

Nominations for the Ballarat Youth Awards are now open and close on August 23. All of the 20,000 people aged 12-25 living in Ballarat are eligible to be nominated.

Visit youthawards.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ for more information.