The All Schools Leadership Program is a new initiative by Monash Youth and Family Services and is based on the very successful City of Knox Young Leaders Program.

Various organisations and workers with diverse experiences have been involved in the development of the Leadership Program, which has seen the program duplicated in municipalities throughout Melbourne. The program is currently run over five days involving year 10 students from secondary schools in Monash.

The program aims to increase young people’s skills and confidence in leadership, communication and participation. To achieve these aims the program will:

 

• Develop leadership skills by encouraging participants to take on leadership roles in group discussion, activities and role-plays.
• To illustrate the importance of full participation in team decision-making processes.
• Increase self-confidence in group work, leadership and public speaking by providing a safe environment for participants to take on active roles.
• To increase understanding of the process and components of personal communication.

 

Training is provided in communication, group process, public speaking, leadership and program planning. The program is active, experiential, and builds on a youth participatory approach (young people participate in various tasks and activities and learn through experience and reflection). The week culminates in a presentation night in front of family, friends, council staff, and school representatives.

GirlsOwn primary focuses on building the social skills, friendships, family values and positive self-esteem amongst young girls in grades 5 and 6 (10-16 participants per group). Whilst the program has selected topical sessions, the program can be tailored to meet the specific needs the school requests.

Possible topics include:

• Self esteem & confidence
• Diversity amongst young people
• Labelling and stereotyping
• Family values
• Friendships & relationships
• What is beauty?
• Coping and resilience
• Relaxation

The GirlsOwn Primary program is very interactive and provides practical activities to better equip young girls with the knowledge and skills to enhance personal development in the above topic areas.

Based on the highly successful program models ‘Bodythink’ and ‘Girl Power’, GirlsOwn focuses on building the social skills and positive self-esteem of its female participants. While primarily targeted at young women in year 9 (8-14 participants per group), the program can be tailored to meet the needs of the group.

 

Possible topics include:
• Self esteem & confidence
• Celebrating diversity: values and beliefs
• Breaking down labels & stereotypes
• Assertiveness
• Friendships & relationships
• Body image and the media
• Coping with strong emotions
• Goal setting

 

GirlsOwn aims to empower young women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to address issues in their own lives.

The Transition Program is aimed at Grade 6 students leaving primary school and moving onto secondary school. The program aims to build the skills and confidence to handle issues that students may face in their experience transitioning from primary to secondary school. The program focuses on the following topics:

Possible topics include:

• Fears and expectations
• Real experiences of year seven students
• Strategies to overcome the fears and expectations
• Responding to new situations
• Assertiveness
• Conflict resolution
• Anger management
• Understanding diversity of different cultures and individual needs

The program can be delivered in one day or over five sessions.

The Primary Leadership Program is targeted at small groups of students ( 10-16 participants per group) in Grade 5 and 6.

 

The program aims to increase young people’s leadership skills and communication techniques through an experiential learning processes incorporating interactive group work, enhancing decision making skills and building on the natural confidence in each student. The program would be beneficial to students who may be looking at developing a leadership role within their school, social or community group.

 

The program can be delivered in one day or over five sessions. For expressions of interest please contact Barb Wallace at MYFS on 9518 3900.

The Secondary Leadership Program is based on the Knox Young Leadership Program and the Monash Youth and Family Services All Schools Leadership Program. It can be targeted to all secondary school year levels (10-16 participants per group).

 

The program aims to increase young people’s leadership skills and communication techniques through an experiential learning processes incorporating interactive group work, enhancing decision making skills and building on the natural confidence in each student. The program would be beneficial to students who may be looking at developing a leadership role within their school, social or community group.

Based on the successful program 'Bodythink' and 'About Face', Body Image and Confidence focuses on building self esteem, strong peer relationships and a deeper understanding of the concept of body image for it's participants. Primarily targeted at young women in middle years (14-18 participants per program), the program can be tailored to meet the needs of a group. Topics include; Self esteem Confidence Breaking down labels and stereotypes Friendships and relationships Body image and the media Role of women in today's society Body Image and Confidence aims to empower young women with knowledge, skills and confidence to address issues in their own lives. The program is available to be run at schools but is also open to others with workshops being run from our offices from time to time.

The BASE JR. program is based on MYFS successful BASE program and is an interactive program for young males in grade 5 and 6 (14-18 participants per program) that have issues with managing anger in themselves and others who are looking to improve their communication and social skills. The program aims to assist young males in being more aware of both their actions and others. Additionally, the program should assist participants to be reflective on their feelings, thoughts and subsequent actions.

The BASE program is an interactive program for young males 13-15 (14-18 participants per program) that have issues with managing anger in themselves and others who are looking to improve their communication and social skills. The program aims to assist young males in being more aware of both their actions and others. Additionally, the program should assist participants to be reflective on their feelings, thoughts and subsequent actions.

PRIMARY PEER MEDIATION The Primary Peer Mediation Program is based on the successful Monash Youth and Family Services Secondary School Peer Mediation Program. The program has been adapted in consultation with primary school teachers and program facilitators and is designed to be delivered to grade 5 or 6 students (max 20 per program). The school needs to have mediation model in place or a strong commitment to developing one, we can assist with this if a school wishes. Generally Grade 5 & 6 students are trained to mediate students in prep – grade 2.

 

Mediation is when people involved in a conflict, have a chance to speak without interruption so that each side of the problem is heard. Everyone works together to find an agreement. Mediators are trained to help two people in conflict come to an agreement.

 

 

SECONDARY PEER MEDIATION Peer Mediation in secondary schools not only benefits the students mediating or in mediation, it also frees up the welfare department to concentrate on more complex issues with students in the school.

 

Like the primary peer mediation program, this program is targeting students year 10 and above to help bridge the communication between two younger students in conflict. The secondary peer mediators will be learning more advanced skills in active listening and negotiation techniques to assist students in reaching an agreement. The training runs over 2 days and provides students with the skills to be Peer Mediators in their school. Workbooks and certificates are supplied. Maximum numbers per program is 16 students.

 

Please note that schools will need to have a commitment to facilitate their own Peer Mediation program and recognise the training is only one component. For schools wanting to invest in setting up a Peer Mediation Program, MYFS are willing to support staff with the planning and resources needed to ensure its success.