A Local Government program to allow students to build on their existing leadership abilities and develop other life skills has recently held its graduation ceremony. Twenty students from ten secondary schools in Cardinia Shire completed Council’s 2011 Young Leaders program in August.
Participants attended a camp which featured outdoor leadership activities and a Mandala art workshop.
Councillor Brett Owen said that the program’s participants were provided with the opportunity to learn, improve and develop skills that would help them in their future endeavours.
“The leaders involved in the program should be very proud that they were approached by their teachers to participate,” he said.”The camp took students on a personal journey as they were challenged to look at their strengths and leadership capabilities.”
The following week students took part in two new activities, a ‘Great Debate’ with Councillors and a ‘Community Race’ around Pakenham. The race encouraged students to visit local community agencies and learn about what they had to offer.
Students spoke about leadership, inspirational leaders in the community and innovative concepts about leadership, in front of family, friends, Councillors, Council managers and staff.
The Young Leaders program is a Youth Participation and Access program jointly funded by Council and the State Government.
Enhanced disability care skills have far reaching benefits
Community care workers at Eurobodalla Shire Council have been increasing their skills in disability care to allow them to better support their clients, their carers, and families. In July, the workers received their Certificate IV in Disabilities.
Community Wellbeing Director Peter McLaughlin said improving skills of care workers is an essential part of delivering support services and has been identified as a priority by the respondents of the recent Disability Access Plan Community Survey.
“Keeping care workers skills up to date and relevant is critical because about 19 percent of our population are living with a disability and relying on the support of others,” he said. “The Certificate IV course has given our staff new skills which they can now share with their clients’ carers and families.”
Peter McLaughlin said that Council’s direct care staff support a range of people living in the Eurobodalla community, many of whom are frail older people or people with disability.
“The disability programs aim to assist meaningful relationships, connect to community and develop skills in a way that enhances independence,” he said.
The care workers have been studying the Certificate IV course over the last 18 months in a partnership between Council and Eurobodalla Adult Education.
“The training will assist staff to better support clients’ individual needs and personal goals and enable people with a disability to have a stronger voice within their community,” Peter McLaughlin said.
The Certificate IV in Disabilities was undertaken in the workplace through a collaborative delivery and assessment arrangement that saw Council’s Community Care staff supported by their peers and qualified Adult Education trainers.
