The Young Leaders Program is a week long imitative providing leadership opportunities for Year 10 students within Maroondah. The program works with schools to identify potential students who undertake a week-long intensive leadership course at EV’s Youth Centre in Croydon.

The program covers public speaking, confidence and teamwork, with the aim of developing leadership skills. At the end of the course the participants organise a presentation evening, which includes the presentation of certificates from Council.

This evening I was invited to speak about the program and to formally congratulate the students for their completion of the course. The speech delivered during the presentation is available within this post:

Good evening and welcome to EV’s Youth Centre, I would like to congratulate once again the participants of the Young Leaders program, as well as the parents, teachers and schools that support these students and this program.

Maroondah City Council, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledges that we are meeting on the land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on Land which the indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

I would also like to welcome our fellow Council colleague, Cr Natalie Thomas, who will be assisting in the presentation of certificates this evening.

I would like to congratulate all the Young Leaders for their efforts throughout the entire week and for tonight’s presentation. Well done for accepting this challenge with such enthusiasm. I can see that this experience has been a positive one and hope you can now confidently implement your learning into everyday life, and develop as young leaders in our community.

I’d like to also take this opportunity to specifically thank the following teachers and participating schools for seeing the potential in their young leaders and their willingness to work with the wider community and give opportunities like this to their students;

• Sharlene Agnew –School Wellbeing Coordinator at Ringwood Secondary College,
• Gary George –Leadership Coordinator at Norwood Secondary College,
• Assistant Principal John Baston at Croydon Secondary College,
• Dean Hewitt – Year 10 coordinator at Heathmont College,
• Lauren Moulynox – Year 10 coordinator and Jo Kirby -School Wellbeing coordinator at Maroondah Secondary College,
• Heather Ruckert –Year 10 coordinator at Tintern Schools,
• Ann Adams – School wellbeing coordinator at Parkwood Secondary College,
• David Hurley – Year 10 coordinator at Luther College,
• Daniel Wightman –Year 10 coordinator at Aquinas College

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Council’s Youth Services Team who have worked hard putting this program together, including facilitating the program and ensuring tonight’s event runs smoothly.

Young Leaders is one of many great programs and events run by Council’s Youth Services Team, so please take the time to speak with a team member later tonight if you would like any further information on the great services they provide.

Congratulations Young Leaders of 2011. I wish you all the very best for the future, and hope you enjoy putting what you have learned from this week into practice!