2LT Local News

Leadership and careers pathways program a hit in Lithgow

Dec 19, 2018

LITHGOW, Central West, NSW, Australia – It has been an extraordinary year for many younger people in the Lithgow area, with a whole range of activities and interaction through the leadership and careers pathway program Future Finders, which was launched earlier this year.

Eighteen workshops were held bringing together 141 young people to learn skills in business, social entrepreneurship and job readiness. In addition to the business workshops, Outdoor Explore ran five leadership days that saw forty seven youngsters get out of the usual classroom setting and into the bush to learn hands-on leadership and teambuilding skills.

There was an education taster day with 70 young people attending that highlighted the local training opportunities and application process at TAFE, Notre Dame and the wide network of Western Sydney University offerings.  

Two big-ticket employers also jumped on board to support the Future Finders program. Energy Australia hosted twenty young people and presented their trainee and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as having their employees share their career pathway journey before setting off on a tour of the Mt Piper power station.

Emirates One&Only Wolgan provided three ‘exclusive behind the scenes’ tours to young people that showed the front and back operations of their establishment where employees highlighted their career pathways which gave students an opportunity to ask questions and learn more.

Future Finders also supported young Lithgow Halloween musicians by providing a muso boot-camp. Participants learnt how to get the best sound out of their gear, gig etiquette and the importance of networking and building their online portfolios.  Stemming from the muso boot-camp and her performance at Lithgow Halloween, Isabelle Cobcroft was awarded the Future Finders Career Helper that gives her the opportunity to professionally record two tracks. This will help to build her portfolio, online presence and applications for gigs.

Over 300 young people participated in the Future Finders program in 2018, with the Lithgow Youth Leadership Forum rounding things out. The forum ran last month and supported thirty of Lithgow’s young leaders in learning practical leadership and advocacy skills; as well as participating in envisioning Lithgow’s future – providing input on what they would like to see for young people in the region.

“This has been an incredible opportunity for the young people of Lithgow to learn practical skills and exposure to employment that can help them with their career choices,” Mayor Ray Thompson said Wednesday. “The Future Finders program has also provided invaluable knowledge to Council. Through the workshops young people have been able to tell us what is important to them, what they like about Lithgow and what they would like to see improved.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, Council said it wanted to thank the high schools, businesses and learning institutions that have supported the Future Finders program. The program was funded by the Department of Families and Communities through its Youth Opportunities grant.

The Council plans to continue to run the program on a smaller scale throughout 2019 and into the future, Wednesday’s statement said.