TAKING THE LEAD PILOT PROJECT
Taking the Lead is a joint agency project. The three partner agencies are DRAS, Colac Otway Region Advocacy Services (CORAS) and Assert 4 All (a division of Barwon Disability Resource Council).
This project is supported by United Way Geelong and the Department of Human Services Barwon South Western Region.
Taking the Lead is an innovative project that will empower people with disabilities to fulfill their leadership potential by enhancing individual and organisational leadership capacity and organisational and community cultures.
The partners involved in the project developed Taking the Lead in response to requests from people with disabilities who have identified the lack of leadership opportunities in local communities. People with disabilities have expressed their desire to develop these skills in a variety of contexts, including government and non-government advisory committees and the community and corporate sector. The Project partners wish to support people with disabilities in the development of their leadership skills in their local community.
Leadership Development
Leadership is an ability to motivate people to work together. A leader is the person who is able to inspire others to want to follow his/her direction.
People can learn to become good leaders.
Taking the Lead will provide participants with a specially designed program which will help them to learn about:
- How to build confidence and improve self esteem
- Better communication skills
- Goal setting and decision making
- Leadership styles and skills
- Public speaking and representation skills
- Community participation
- Practical leadership opportunities
- Information, access and quality standards
The pilot program will run from May to October 2009.
A message from the Project Officer – August 2009
Taking the Lead pilot project officially commenced on 19th May 2009. We currently have a total of 21 people involved: 11 Leadership Participants and 10 Mentors.
At the half way mark, participants have completed three mentoring meetings with their mentors which have provided them with individually tailored support with their leadership skills development. They have also attended two facilitated training sessions on self advocacy themes: Choices Decisions and Empowerment and Rights, Responsibilities and Representation.
So far, there has been much positive development in all participants: new friendships have formed; bonding as a group; cooperation on all levels; and inproved confidence of our ‘leaders in making’.
In the second half of the program, two training sessions will cover Practical Leadership Opportunities and Public Speaking. Each training session is followed by individually tailored support mentoring meetings to provide the best opportunity for learning.
The program will conclude on 27th October with an official celebration recognising the achievements of all participants.
Taking the Lead is currently being evaluated February to April 2010.
Please check this site for future programs.
LEADING WITH STANDARDS
DRAS is one of 13 organisations selected to participate in the Leading with Standards Pilot Project. The Leading with Standards program supports a best practice system for involving and managing volunteers. The program has been intentionally created with several components, enabling different levels of participation reflecting the diversity of organisational needs from multiple sectors from across our local region.
The project funded by United Way is being implemented by Volunteering Geelong via support and training to project members. Project members include DRAS, Glastonbury Child & Family Services, Stride Foundation, Bethany Community Support, Do Care Geelong, Multicultural Aged Care, Uniting Care Geelong, Kids Plus Foundation, Geelong Food Relief, Geelong Mood Support, St Laurence Community Services, Foundation 61 and Volunteering Geelong.
If you have an interest in volunteering or would like to be a volunteer at DRAS please contact:
Volunteering Geelong
87 McLarty Place
Geelong Vic 3220
Ph: 03 5221 1377
Email: info@volunteeringgeelong.org.au
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