By Molly Magennis
The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Youth Leadership Program is back on in 2022, with applications open to young people in the west.
The program is open to those aged 14-16 who are living or working in Ballarat, Ararat, Melton, Pyrenees, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong.
The program, established in 2013, gives participants the opportunity to learn from community leaders and develop skills in resilience and leadership, build confidence and make new friends along the way.
Over 10 sessions which will run fortnightly, participants can expect to take part in practical team building challenges, careers expositions, mentoring from respected industry leaders, coaching courses, AFL and AFLW match visits, Western Bulldogs volunteer opportunities and council workshops.
Bulldogs youth development co-ordinator, Hannah Singleton said over the course of the program, a variety of topics will be covered which may not necessarily come up at school.
“It’s a good opportunity to actually explore topics that are possibly quite present in society but not really touched on at school, like talking about mental health in a safe space, gender equity and the issues there, but also some other sort of potential opportunities to help improve these issues as well,” she said.
“We have a session around intercultural understanding, so getting to know different cultures, not only in the room, but maybe even throughout the west of Victoria, which is quite multicultural, but also the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.”
Throughout the program, the participants are encouraged to develop their own project on a topic they’re passionate about, to use as an opportunity to give back to their community.
“A big [thing] is you know, being able to feel, I guess, like they’re contributing to their communities because through their projects they’re having a voice as well in their community, which is really, really nice to hear,” she said.
Candidates must apply to participate by completing an online registration form.
Details: www.westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation/forms/youth-leadership-project
