Pilot Program | Fostering Young Community Leaders

In the spirit of fostering active youth engagement and community leadership, Greater Whitsunday Communities were involved in the collaborative development and implementation of a Youth Community Leadership Program with the Mackay Regional Council and Mirani State High School.

Building on the momentum generated by the Youth Out Loud initiative, where the voices of young people across the Mackay Region resonated with a desire for increased involvement in community decision-making, this innovative program sought to empower our youth with the skills and knowledge essential for effective community leadership.

This resulted in a pilot initiative conducted over five comprehensive sessions during Term 3 of 2023. Focused on instilling foundational skills and knowledge essential for effective community leadership, the program covered a spectrum of topics. Notably, participants delved into the nuances of personality types and the diverse approaches that can accentuate individual strengths.

Fifteen young individuals engaged in an enlightening exploration of the concept of community, acquired insights into the utility of politics as a tool for community leaders, and actively participated in brainstorming sessions for community projects. Principal Matt Horton's unwavering support played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the project, from its inception through to enabling Mackay Regional Council worker Anna Kahler to continue to work with students in the development of community projects stemming from the program.

After the program's conclusion, an evaluation was undertaken by GWCommunities project worker Lauren Pattie with two members of the Mackay Regional Council Communities Team—Anna Kahler and Elisa McFadden. A comprehensive feedback survey revealed overwhelmingly positive responses over the five weeks. Approximately 76% of participants expressed their interest in the sessions, with a majority indicating a newfound understanding of themselves, their peers, and the communities they represent. Most notably, 90% of participants affirmed gaining insights into effective advocacy for the changes they aspire to witness in their communities.

Encouraged by this success, the program outline and materials have been refined with the aim of offering this program once again in 2024. The collective aspiration is to continue empowering our youth with the skills and knowledge necessary for conscientious and effective community leadership.