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MEDIA ALERT

Monday 20^th February, 2012

ATTENTION WA EMERGING LEADERS:
EXCLUSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM RELEASED IN WA

A wilderness-based professional development program that has been developing the management skills of emerging leaders and building strong corporate teams on the east coast for over six years is now available to West Australian professionals, with an exclusive two-for-one offer for its West Australian release.

The Catalyst program, which has been a part of The Fletcher Group, Boral and Evans & Peck’s professional development programs, is being launched by not-for-profit experiential learning organisation Outward Bound and is designed for emerging leaders and graduates in corporations, government agencies and not-for profits in Western Australia.

The inaugural West Australian program is running April 19^th to 25^th and offers an opportunity for your staff to explore the concepts of effective leadership through high-impact wilderness activities such as rafting, hiking, high ropes and camping; as well as leadership concepts like the Leadership Wheel.

Bunbury based participant from The Laminex Group, Aaron Story, travelled across the country last year to attend Catalyst on the east-coast and speaks of the benefits the course has had on his professional development:

“We learnt how to get others motivated when it wasn’t a task that they would normally excel at. Positive reinforcement and the feeling that everyone was in it together and had the same goal was a huge motivation when it got real tough – this is something I have brought back with me to the office,” said Aaron.

“The activities and challenges we completed taught me how lines of communication can break down without the correct structure. Understanding this concept has helped me enormously when it comes to leading my team.”

If you want to empower your emerging leaders to inspire their own teams and realise what they are capable of, then don’t miss out on this exclusive two-for-one deal for your staff.

Standard Price: $2950

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR WEST AUSTRALIANS: 2 FOR PRICE OF 1 ($2950 for 2 participants)

Dates: 19^th to 25^th April, 2012

Location: Walpole Wilderness

Contact:

Eva Breidenbach
Free call 1800 267 999
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To find out more, click here

 

Twelve emerging leaders from Western Australia will this now have the chance to gain insight into their management methods and leadership styles while navigating, rafting, camping and climbing through the Walpole Wilderness on a seven day professional development program being released exclusively to West Australians.

The Catalyst program, which is being launched by not-for-profit experiential education organisation Outward Bound Australia, has been running successfully on the east-coast for over 6 years and is this week being released in Western Australia with a two-for-one-exclusive deal for WA professionals.

Bunbury based participant from The Laminex Group, Aaron Story, who travelled across the country last year to attend Catalyst on the east-coast said the course has had enormous benefits to his professional development.

“Talk about stretching our comfort zones straight off the mark,” said Aaron.

“It was emotionally exhausting, yes, but the sheer toughness and mental strain made us so busy that the days flew by, which was good as we started at 6:00am in the morning and never finished until at least 9:00 or 10:00pm most nights - sleeping was not a problem.”

“The activities and challenges we completed taught me how lines of communication can break down without the correct structure. Understanding this concept has helped me enormously when it comes to leading my team,” said Aaron.

“We learnt how to get others motivated when it wasn’t a task that they would normally excel at. Positive reinforcement and the feeling that everyone was in it together and had the same goal was a huge motivation when it got real tough – this is something I have brought back with me to the office.”

Outward Bound CEO Darren Black said the program uses high-impact wilderness activities and experiential learning to explore the concepts of effective leadership.

“Catalyst develops the practical skills of leadership, increases staff productivity, builds long-lasting leaders and fosters strong team connections,” said Mr Black.

“Outward Bound Australia has a long history of developing the management skills of emerging leaders and building strong corporate teams through helping them realise their potential in an outdoor learning environment.

“We’ve worked with teams from companies on the east coast for over six years, including The Fletcher Group, Boral and Evans and Peck and are now excited to offer the program to emerging business leaders in Western Australia.”

The two-for-one offer is available for West Australian businesses, not-for-profits and government agencies to attend the April 19^th-25^th program. To find out more information contact Eva Breidenbach, Free call 1800 267 999 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To read the article on Outward Bound's homepage, click here.

Outward Bound Australia has successfully initiated its new leadership offering for Western Australian students with the Inaugural School Leaders Program, held in Walpole, WA in late January 2012.

Leveraging from the success of Youth Navigator programs, the exclusive School Leaders program has been developed for current and aspiring school leaders in WA, aged 16 – 17, to fill the gap in leadership development opportunities that are more readily available to their east coast peers.

Five young current and aspiring school leaders from Rockingham, Armadale, Bunbury and Nannup attended the program over seven days, completing theoretical and wilderness based adventures to explore the concepts of effective leadership and help them transfer this into the classroom and become positive role models in their communities.

As well as this, the students walked away as a tight-knit team with 5 WACE points each for their graduate leaving certificates.

Rockingham student Connor Warn, one of the five who completed the School Leaders program, said the course allowed him to grow as a person and overcome his fears.

“Outward Bound has definitely given me more confidence and motivation to do the things I want, as now I believe I can achieve anything,” Connor said.

“It was a tough course, but I loved every minute of it. I now have so much more confidence in my school work and in myself as a leader.”

Claire Peck, Outward Bound’s WA Partnership Manager, says the program is designed to help current and aspiring school leaders develop the skills and understanding to be the best leaders they can be and get a competitive edge on their peers.

“We are pleased to announce the program will be running again in April, based on the success of the Inaugural course,” Claire said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to prepare students for their final years of school and add that extra ‘sparkle’ to their CV  while earning 5 WACE points.”

“I encourage anyone who wants to be or currently is a prefect, sports captain or school leader of any sort to enrol in the course, it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”

The next School Leaders program will be held from 10^th – 16^th April and 1^st – 7^th October. To secure your place or a place for your child or student, please contact:

Melissa Mak, WA Business Development Manager
ph: 0419 808 676
e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OR

Claire Peck, WA Partnerships Manager
ph: 0407 095 130
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Remember your life-changing experience with Outward Bound? Originally from the Nowra region? Then you must be one of over 100 people who were sponsored by Nowra Lions Club since 1989 (or later Bomaderry Lions) to attend an Outward Bound Course under what is now known as the Nowra Lions Outward Bound Project.

The search for the Nowra One Hundred is now on and we'd like to hear from you!

If you are on of the Nowra 100, then you are one of the 100+ young Australians that have been sponsored by Nowra Lions Club since 1989 and more recently Bomaderry Lions Club, through the generosity of the people and/or businesses in your local community, to attend an Outward Bound Navigator Course.

To mark this outstanding community achievement, Outward Bound Australia is keen to maximise this opportunity to further research the long-term effects of its courses on such a localised and reasonably homogeneous group.

That all means…. we want your story! In particular we want to know how your Outward Bound experience impacted on your life and what the community sponsorship you received from your local Lions Club and its supporters, meant to you.

We’ve already received the first story, from the very man who started it all in 1989. Bruce Spender was, at the time, posted to the Royal Australian Navy as Training Administration Officer when he became involved with Outward Bound through a leadership training program. Bruce says:

“After I left the RAN and became involved with Lions International through the Nowra Club. I thought that Lions, who operate various programmes for young Australians, could become involved with local youth by sponsoring them to attend the Outward Bound Navigator course. In my year as President of the Nowra Club I therefore suggested we do this. The Board of Directors agreed so our first young person was a young man by the name of Paul Brown who worked with the same company as I did – Paul is now Director of the very company.

Of all the young people who the Nowra Lions Club has sponsored almost every single one has benefitted from the experience and the majority have demonstrated that they have greatly benefited from their attendance. Just as we observed changes in the young naval officers who did our leadership and expedition training at the RANC, many parents have been amazed at the difference in maturity and tolerance of others that is achieved in just 12 short days, by their child’s participation in the Outward Bound Navigator Course. “From little acorns great oaks grow”. The ongoing difference that has and will continue to make in their own lives and the community in which they live, is immeasurable.”

If you know of any other “100” members, pass on the message. We want to trace as many as we can before the course in April 2012, that will take us past this memorable milestone.

You can read other Nowra 100 stories, or share your own story by clicking here.

We hope you will contribute and if you know of any others who were similarly sponsored by Nowra or Bomaderry Lions Clubs, please let us know by contacting:
Lloyd Worthy
ph: 0412 489 926
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or
Freya Norman
ph: 02 9818 0988
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