The Emerging Young Leaders Mentoring Program August workshop

Participants solve problems at the workshop

 

"What a bloody special moment it was! That's what these programs are about," says Mentee Jake Williamson, referring to a session in the August workshop where participants shared their thoughts on where they stand in their leadership journey.

 

Over the first weekend in August, the CFA participants of the Emerging Young Leaders Mentoring Program, came together again for their August workshop to focus on interoperability and leadership.

“We all just picked up where we left off in our last face-to-face workshop and built on the opportunity.” one participant commented.

Against the beautiful backdrop of Marysville, mentees and mentors spent time taking part in a wide variety of engaging presentations. Guests from FRV and VICSES shared experiences working with other agencies, and we heard from CFA members, program participants and tried practical activities.

Highlights from the weekend included FRV’s Tony O’Day AFSM, who presented on Interoperability with other agencies, scenarios with SES’s Diana Batley, inclusive leadership with CFA’s Simone Kinross and a walk to Stevensons Falls.

“The safe space that was created allowed participants to bond and to share their individual vulnerabilities,” was noted by a participant as impactful. There were several opportunities over the weekend for mentees and mentors to share their experiences, open up and reflect on their CFA and personal journeys, which resulted in a closer group by the end of the workshop.  

One of the mentors reflected on the conversations they were able to have with multiple mentees,

“Being able to extract opinions and reasons for several mentees as to where they are going and what help we can all give in achieving their goals was interesting. Many do not have a clear place they want to go, but are using the program to help define their future in CFA.”

As the program draws to a close at the end of the month, mentees will now focus on the next steps in their leadership journey and seek support beyond the program.

 

Submitted by	Alex Reid