News & Events
Local board helps youth get a foot in the door
Bendigo, Monday 20 February 2012:
Bendigo Community Health is first to sign up to be part of the new and improved Community Door program in 2012, run in partnership by Lead On Australia and the Bendigo Student Association, based at La Trobe University.
Lead On Australia Chairman, Russell Jenkins, said Community Door was a community and youth development initiative that encouraged young people to play a more active role in their community.
“Community Door is a long-term strategy, which aims to build community capacity by encouraging young people to contribute to local boards and committees nearly 20 years earlier than the traditional age of entry,” Mr Jenkins said.
“By working closely with their mentor, our young participants are able learn new skills and gain valuable experience in the fields and industries they are passionate about.
“The program previously ran for many years in Bendigo and was a huge success with a number of young people from the program now actively involved as Directors and Committee members.
“This is just the first of many young people who we will be putting through the Community Door program here in Bendigo throughout 2012.”
The new program sees the involvement of the Bendigo Student Association for the first time, with their role focusing on support for and liaison with participants.
Bendigo Student Association General Manager, Mark Willington, said that they were glad to be able to build their local connection through their involvement.
“When Lead On came to La Trobe to talk about the program we were keen to become closely involved.
“We are happy that we’ve been able to provide the connection that has the first appointment for the new Community Door program coming from La Trobe Bendigo in John Traynor, who is a third-year Pharmacy student and President of the Bendigo Association of Pharmacy Students”.
Bendigo Community Health Services Chairman, Leigh Watkins said his board had jumped at the chance to be involved in the revamped initiative, after sourcing Director, Nicole Barlow, from the original Community Door program.
“We are proud to be part of Community Door and look forward to working closely with our participant throughout 2012.
“Connections to youth are important to our programs and our board are sure that we will gain a valuable and fresh point of view by taking part in Community Door.
For further information about Community Door call 1300 304 541 or visit www.leadonaustralia.com.au
Defensive Driving Program gets the Green Light
Melbourne, Tuesday 6 December 2011:
Young people are significantly over-represented in Victoria’s road trauma statistics, with nearly one-third of all road deaths resulting from crashes involving young drivers. 1
Today, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, CGU Insurance and Lead On Australia announced that they will provide more than 140 young people in Victoria with access to free defensive driver training in 2012 as part of a new joint initiative, to be delivered in partnership with participating Bendigo Bank Community Bank® branches.
The Greenlight driver education program aims to reduce young people’s likelihood of being involved in a major collision by providing them with access to comprehensive defensive driver training with Australia’s premier training provider, the Driver Education Centre of Australia.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Executive Customer and Community and Lead On Australia Chairman, Russell Jenkins, said young drivers accounted for roughly a quarter of driver deaths on Victorian roads, despite making up just 13 per cent of licensed drivers. 1
“When a young person is lost in tragic circumstances, such as through road trauma, their whole community is affected,” Mr Jenkins said.
“At Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, we are in a unique position to help address this issue by working with our partners in the Community Bank® network to significantly improve the accessibility of defensive driver education in communities across the state.”
Program spokesperson for CGU Insurance, Shane Birch, said the insurance company was committed to encouraging responsible road-user behaviour among young drivers.
“The Greenlight program will focus on preparing inexperienced drivers for a variety of situations by promoting safe driving practises and discouraging risk-taking behaviour,” said Mr Birch.
“By increasing inexperienced drivers’ understanding of vehicle dynamics, and advocating strategies for reducing risk we can improve the safety of youth on Victoria roads.”
Greenlight Driver Education program’s 2012 pilot will provide defensive driver training free of charge to learner and probationary licence holders located in communities who have a participating Community Bank® branch.
For further information about the Greenlight Driver Education Program contact the program coordinators, Lead On Australia on info@leadonaustralia.com.au or 1300 304 541 or visit your nearest participating Community Bank® branch.
1 VicRoads, 2008, Arrive Alive Action Plan 2008-2012, VicRoads, viewed 10 January 2012
Youth Foundation network celebrates past
achievements and new beginnings
Melbourne, Tuesday 6 December 2011:
On Wednesday 7 December 2011, representatives from 17 Victorian communities will come together at Dockland’s Alumbra to celebrate the achievements of the Youth Foundations Victoria pilot, and reveal the new-look Youth Foundation network to the public for the first time.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Executive Customer and Community and Lead On Australia Chairman, Russell Jenkins, said the Youth Foundations initiative was established in 2006 as a unique partnership between the bank, its community-based partners and the Victorian Government’s Office for Youth.
“More than 15 Youth Foundation sites have been created across Victoria with aim of providing young people in disadvantaged communities with grants to fund youth-led activities in their local area,” Mr Jenkins said.
“Over the past five years, the program has had some amazing outcomes, including reducing barriers for young people to participate and embrace connections within their community.
Youth-led and focused projects supported by Youth Foundation sites across the state have included:
- Improving young people’s access to education and training
- Establishing a girls-only gym to encourage young women to exercise
- Championing community art projects
- Producing a handbook and support group for young mothers
- Creating T-Shirt to promote local pride
- Hosting local youth events in safe and supportive environments
“At the end this year, Youth Foundation will transition to an independent network supported by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, our community-based partners and Lead On Australia,” Mr Jenkins said.
“The new model will embrace each community’s individuality, with sites able to tailor the structure to suit their unique needs.
“On behalf of the bank, its partners and the 17 Youth Foundation communities I would thank the Victorian Government for its guidance and support throughout the pilot phase.
“As the foundation continues to evolve, we hope to expand the network and welcome new communities wanting to promote youth inclusion and development in their local area.”
For more information about Youth Foundation contact Lead On Australia on 1300 304 541.
Lead On offers scholarship to local students
Bendigo, Wednesday 23 November 2011:
Lead On Australia is showing its commitment to Bendigo youth and their role in building stronger communities with a pledge to support a student from the Greater Bendigo area to study a Bachelor of Community Development degree at La Trobe University’s Bendigo Campus.
Russell Jenkins, Chairman of Lead On Australia, said providing support to a local student to further their tertiary education was part of Lead On’s continued commitment to building a stronger Bendigo.
‘’Since establishing Lead On in 1999 we have assisted more than 8,500 youth to get involved in communities, including projects such as Loop and Community Door,’’ Mr Jenkins said.
“Family circumstances such as illness, drought and natural disasters can have a significant impact on a young person’s ability to further their education.
‘’Faced with the huge costs of university education, some local youth may never get the chance to achieve their academic dreams.
‘’Lead On is proud to support local youth to further their education, and maybe one day the Bendigo community will benefit directly from the skills and knowledge they bring,’’ he said.
The Lead On Bendigo Sustainable Community Scholarship will support a disadvantaged local student with tertiary study-related costs to undertake a Community Development degree at La Trobe University Bendigo.
Mr Jenkins also noted the strong support received from the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of La Trobe University Bendigo in helping to establish the scholarship.
“Faculty Head, Associate Professor Trevor Budge has been working closely with Lead On to ensure that we achieve the best outcome possible with the scholarship and we are grateful for the growing relationship that we are building,” Mr Jenkins said.
Associate Professor Budge welcomed the partnership and its contribution to the course newly available at La Trobe Bendigo.
“Community development is a growing area of employment and this is one of the few courses in Australia providing students with the skills needed for future employment in this field. We are grateful for the support Lead On is providing our students to pursue this important area of study,” he said.
Successful applicants will initially receive funding for one year and depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to assist the second year of study.
The Lead On Bendigo Sustainable Community Scholarship is part of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Scholarship Program, with about 25 Community Bank® branches and other partners taking part from across Australia.
Applications for 2012 will open on Thursday, 1 December and will be assessed in early 2012.
For further information please contact Lead On Australia or visit www.bendigoadelaide.com.au/scholarships
FLARE MAGAZINE
In August 2010, Lead On Australia sat down with two young men from Bendigo to discuss their ideas and aspirations for themselves, young people in Bendigo and the wider community.
From that informal discussion came the development and launch of the exciting and innovative FLARE magazine.
The FLARE crew quickly grew to more than thirty contributors across the marketing, journalism, graphic design, photography, animation, film, legal and finance fields.
The FLARE mission is to create a magazine for young people by young people, which enhances the community’s capacity by teaching new skills and providing opportunities for community participation.
Or as further defined by the creators;
“In short, we are a bunch of young people that have been brought together by Lead On Australia to produce a locally based, locally driven magazine on youth for youth.
“We were all brought together with our own ideas, own talents and beliefs to create something different from the usual youth-based magazines. We don’t have the usual boundaries some magazines do, yet we aim to be professional and dynamic, creating something that anyone can pick up, read and enjoy!”
The inaugural edition of FLARE magazine was officially launched on the 25 February 2011 with the second issued released in June 2011.
FLARE magazine is an example of the outcomes that can be generated by a collaborative, innovative approach to leveraging the skills and talents of young people and exposing those talents to the wider community.
To find out more about FLARE, order your free copy and chat about how you can get involved, check out www.flareflareflare.com.
In the meantime check out this short clip of the FLARE launch party put together by a member of the FLARE crew and a recent interview with ABC Central Victoria.
CGU renews its support of Lead On Australia
Bendigo, Monday 22 November 2010:
Bendigo Bank’s insurance partner, CGU insurance has renewed its support of Lead On Australia by contributing $50,000 to support the organisation’s youth engagement projects.
This is the third year Lead On Australia has received funding from CGU insurance as part of the insurance company’s commitment to supporting not-for-profit organisations.
CGU’s Manager Financial Institutions - Victoria Tasmania, Graham Henry said Lead On provided a valuable resource to young people and the communities they live in.
“Young people possess an enormous amount of energy, enthusiasm and talent but often find it hard to gain valuable real-life experience,” Mr Henry said.
“Organisations like Lead On Australia give young people the opportunity to develop their skills and make significant contributions to their local communities.”
Lead On Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Price said almost 8500 young people have participated in more than 1250 business and community based projects, since Lead On was established in 1999.
“Since its inception, Lead On has received support from more than 1300 partners in the business, community and government sectors,” Mr Price said.
“CGU Insurance has been a great supporter of Lead On Australia and this funding will allow our organisation to continue delivering valuable projects to the local community.”
