Youth Leadership Program continues to receive top marks from students and teachers

Youth Leadership Workshop presenter Selina Scoble with Year 10 Boonah State High School students.

Council’s successful Youth Leadership Program will again be offered to Scenic Rim students in Years 6 and 10 following the pilot program which saw it extended to include primary schools last year.

An update on the program was presented at Council’s Ordinary Meeting yesterday, with Council endorsing the recommendation to continue the program in schools later in 2022.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said he was excited to have been involved in the Youth Leadership Program for secondary students over many years and seeing it expanded to include primary school students.

"Each year the students who take part in this program undergo amazing personal growth and are challenged to extend themselves in ways they might never have thought possible," he said.

"Through each year of the Youth Leadership Program it has been very satisfying to see how those who have participated have flourished and learnt more about themselves and others as they have developed confidence and leadership skills."

More than 380 Year 10 students have participated in the program since its establishment in 2011.

The program was initially aimed at Year 10 students to prepare them for leadership roles in their schools and the wider community through coaching to improve self-awareness, deliver effective presentations, make informed decisions, and actively contribute within a group working environment.

In 2020 and 2021, the impacts of COVID-19 saw the program of six full-day workshops at Council venues condensed into one-day programs delivered at schools across the Scenic Rim.

“The previous Council-based program could accommodate up to 30 students each year, however the revised school-based format provided an opportunity for 86 students to participate in 2020 and 78 students in 2021,” Mayor Christensen said.

“The revised one-day format has exceeded expectations and Council has received a great deal of positive feedback by parents and students, and principals from participating schools.

“Enabling schools to host the program has provided an opportunity for greater student participation and a more inclusive environment as previous formats meant a limit on numbers.

“The new format has also enabled schools to schedule the program to complement the school curriculum.”

Mayor Christensen said the Youth Leadership Program reflected Council's ongoing commitment to delivering programs and projects that meet the needs of the region's youth and provide direction for young people in the Scenic Rim.

“Regular updates on the Scenic Rim Youth Leadership Program ensure that project deliverables are being met and have meaningful outcomes that provide a lasting legacy for our region's future leaders,” he said.