Dev Oza: Leading with energy, compassion and optimism
Edited by Vivien Yii
As the son of a human rights advocate, a respect for community service was ingrained in Dev Oza from a young age. Earlier this year, Dev started the Glen Eira COVID Initiative, organising deliveries of food and essential items for local charities who were helping to support seniors and other people doing it tough in the community. This experience inspired him to run as a candidate for Rosstown Ward in the upcoming City of Glen Eira council elections.
Professionally, Dev runs a telecommunications company based in Port Melbourne and sits on the board of Dial Before You Dig. He’s currently completing an executive MBA after having sampled an Arts/Law degree, though he says that he eventually dropped his Law studies because he wasn’t a big fan of wigs, or lots of reading, for that matter.
Dev believes that now, more than ever, his community of Glen Eira needs approachable and competent council representatives with energy, compassion, drive and business acumen to represent their interests. As a person who wants to start a family in Glen Eira one day, Dev has a deep interest in building a safer, greener and more livable community.
What inspired you to run for election in the City of Glen Eira?
My interactions with the seniors and others who I met while running my COVID Initiative this year were eye-opening. Some of these people live in public housing and do not get the support from local government that they need. I found out that the pensioner rate rebate hadn’t increased in close to a decade! I realised that local politics was being driven by politics rather than a drive for change.
My father is a human rights lawyer and growing up, I always struggled to understand why he devoted so much time and effort towards fighting for the disadvantaged when he could have instead focussed on making money. I spoke with him often during this pandemic and I understand it now. I suppose, when you meet people, form connections with them and understand their issues – their fight becomes your fight!
What are the key causes and impact areas you are championing?
Many of the councillors and candidates in Glen Eira have spoken about the issue of inappropriate developments. Whilst I support this cause, I think we should also focus on socially relevant issues like preventing the attempted sell-off of our aged-care facilities, more support for seniors, and efforts to promote intergenerational and intercultural relations. Naturally, I will also focus on keeping council rates fairer when so many families are doing it tough. In my opinion, councillors need to take a holistic approach to their duties and be guided by the community, their principles and good judgement, instead of one single issue.
What is your message to other young people who may have thought about running too?
You are it! You are the catalyst for the change that you want to see. Don’t look around you and wait for someone else to come by and drive change. If you are unhappy with the way things are, get involved. We are tremendously lucky to live in a democratic country where you voice matters and every vote counts. Contesting in the elections is a great way to drive change, but there are other ways you can get involved, too – volunteering for a candidate that you support, attending community meetings, raising awareness about issues which are important to you, are just some of the ways.
I recently met Josh Burns, a federal MP in his early 30s, and many other fantastic council candidates in their 20s. Their passion for community service is inspiring and proves that age is not a limiting factor if one doesn’t want it to be! Our generation is the most educated generation that the world has ever seen and has the privilege and the responsibility to drive change. If we won’t, who will?
Dev Oza is running as a candidate for Rosstown Ward in the upcoming City of Glen Eira council elections. You can follow and support his campaign at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevforGlenEira/
Instagram: @Dev4GlenEira
Website: https://www.dev4gleneira.com/
Dev’s Glen Eira COVID Initiative: https://www.gleneiracovid.org/about-me
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devoza/