Teens exploring leadership roles
Eight Ararat district teenagers have won selection in a 2019 Western Bulldogs leadership program.
Supported by Ararat Rural City Council and Central Grampians LLEN, the program aims to give future leaders from the municipality a chance to hone their skills and gain experience.
Jack Cameron, Sam Cairns, Ebony Hannemann, Holly Mcadie, Max Willmott, Maia Ratana, Marcus Graham and Joshua Atkinson are program participants.
They made the group after a nomination process in February and March.
Ararat chief executive Tim Harrison said program organisers welcomed the nine young people at an orientation evening.
Participants then travelled to Lady Northcote Camp in Glenmore at the weekend for their first activities.
“The camp begins an intensive six-month program where the young people will learn about leadership, teamwork, communication, goal setting and resilience,” Dr Harrison said.
“As part of the program, participants will also create a project that helps tackle a social issue in their community.
“It will be really great to see what they come up with.”
Western Bulldogs youth development co-ordinator Salim Mohamed said the club was excited to work with the group.
“They were a little bit shy at first, but as the program develops it will be amazing to see how they grow,” he said.
Central Grampians LLEN chief executive Ray Campling said his organisation was happy to be part of the program as co-sponsor this year.
“We are also really excited to see how these nine young people grow as they learn new skills and develop their leadership potential,” he said.
“This is a really great opportunity for the young people and we know they will get a lot out of the program.”
The leadership program, a Western Bulldogs Community Foundation project, is aimed at teenagers aged 14 to 16 and has operated in the region for two years.
As part of the program, participants attend two camps, six workshops and a careers expo.
They will present a community project to the Ararat council in September.