Youth Albury Wodonga
Project: Emerging Leaders Youth Program
Funded by: Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund 2025.
Amount funded: $30,000.00
In 2025, young people from across the Towong Shire stepped outside their comfort zones — and into leadership.
Thanks to funding from the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund, Youth Albury Wodonga (YAW) delivered two transformational initiatives:
A 4-day Emerging Leaders’ Summit (ELS) in May
A 3-day Camp B.R.A.V.E. in August for 15–16 year olds.
Together, these programs supported local young people to build confidence, resilience, leadership capability and meaningful peer connection — at a time when youth wellbeing challenges remain significant in regional communities.
The Opportunity
Young people in regional communities continue to face increasing pressures — anxiety, stress, depression and social isolation are rising.
Leadership development is often overlooked as a wellbeing strategy.
But leadership is not just about public speaking or being “the loudest in the room.”
It is about:
- Understanding your strengths
- Finding your voice
- Learning to collaborate
- Backing yourself
- Building positive peer networks.
This project created a safe, structured and energising environment for young people to do exactly that.
What Happened
Emerging Leaders Summit (May 2025)
- 18–25 year olds from Towong participated
- 4-day retreat-style leadership intensive
- Included guest speakers, project planning, group challenges and self-reflection activities
- Participants designed and delivered Camp B.R.A.V.E. for younger students.
Camp B.R.A.V.E. (August 2025)
10 Year 9 students + 19 Year 7–9 students
Delivered by ELS participants (peer-led model)
Activities included:
- Taskmaster-style challenges
- Blindfold trust activities
- Leadership archetypes
- Asset mapping
- Project planning
- Creative team exercises
- “Bright’s Got Talent” showcase.
The model created a powerful cycle:
Young leaders developed skills → then immediately applied them → mentoring the next cohort.
The Results
Confidence & Growth Participants reported:
- Increased self-confidence
- Greater willingness to step outside comfort zones
- Improved communication skills
- New friendships and peer networks
- Stronger sense of community.
100% of evaluation respondents:
- Said the Summit represented value for money
- Would recommend it to others
- Camp B.R.A.V.E. participant ratings:
- Majority rated the camp 9 or 10 out of 10.
Voices from the Program
- “I have learnt that it is okay to come out of my comfort shell.”
- “That pushing myself into hard and uncomfortable ways contributes so much to my journey in becoming a leader.”
- “The sense of community and camaraderie between alumni and participants is very powerful and unlike any other experience.”
- “Best camp ever.”
A Ripple Effect in Towong
- Importantly, this wasn’t just a one-off camp.
- Two Camp B.R.A.V.E. participants later enrolled in a Rotary Leadership Camp.
- Two Summit participants returned to support future programs.
- Local alumni are now contributing back into their communities.
