The 2010 Outward Bound National Aspiring Leaders Summit was a huge success. Thirty three young people from across Australia came to Outward Bound's National Centre in Canberra for the seven-day leadership program. Congratulations to all the young people who participated and are now making a big difference in their communities.

We asked the participants to provide feedback on the program, comments included:

• ‘It has given me more confidence and has taught me how to be a better leader’
• ‘It has helped me realise I can be a better person and do more help others’
• ‘It has helped shown me I can overcome challenges. I have learned how to work better in groups’
• ‘It has taught me how to be a better leader and has helped me find direction for my life’
• ‘The Summit was amazing. It was great to have support from the other students to help me overcome challenges’
• ‘The Summit has given me more confidence and taught me how to become a better leader in my community’
• ‘The Summit has helped me to realise that I can make a difference in the community’
• ‘The Summit has helped me to be myself. I learned how to be a leader, but also how to work with other people’
• ‘The National Aspiring Leaders Summit has made me a stronger leader and overall a more confident person’
• ‘The National Aspiring Leaders Summit has taught me to persevere to overcome challenges. I've become an 'I can person'
• ‘The Summit has helped me in every way. I've become more open to try new things. I learned how to be a leader, to believe in myself and to never give up’
• ‘It has shown me I can overcome challenges. It has made me stronger and given me more confidence’
• ‘The National Aspiring Leaders Summit has opened my eyes. I made some amazing friends, overcame challenges and learned to never give up’

National Aspiring Leaders Summit 2010 Participants

Two selected alumni from the 2009 program were brought onboard during the 2010 program to share their projects, the challenges they faced and the support they received. The 2010 participants were able to ask questions and get tips about their own projects. It was great to highlight the different scale of the two mentor's projects and the varying challenges and successes they experienced. These presentations provided a good reality check in identifying the challenging road that could lay ahead with the projects, but also identifying the rewards.

Guest Speakers and Special Guests

The guests involved with this program demonstrate the unique qualities of the National Aspiring Leaders Summit. The program aims to give participants access to experience and advice, widening their perspective and understanding of further pathways available to them. Participants felt they were recognised and valued through this involvement.

Guest speakers included:

• Grace McQuilten – The Social Studio
• Pierre Johansson – Big Bang Baller’s
• Donna Chalmers – Westpac
• David Egan – Wetspac
• Olga Srbovski - The Smith Family
• Tom Feeney – The Smith Family
• Leanora Collett – 2009 Alumni
• Peta Comelli – 2009 Alumni

It has been and overwhelmingly positive experience to hear the participants share their stories and describe the journey they have embarked on. It is clear that the program has had a huge impact beyond the Community Projects.

Community Projects

All 33 participants engaged in designing and implementing a Community Project on their return to their community.

This year's community projects included:

• “Carve It Up For Cancer”. Organise a family fun day. Mini Soccer Competition for the first event. Money raised will go to the Cancer Council.
• BOB (Back of Bullies) – By teens for teens. A place for people to hang out in a safe. Workshops for both victims and bullies: resilience, self esteem workshops etc.
• Social group for 12-13 year olds. “Midland Inner Circle (MIC)”. .. “Get a life, No, get a childhood!”
• Create a regular sporting event with involvement of mentors who have been previously affected by gang related occurrences.
• Community variety sports event to raise awareness of mental illness with all money raised going to Beyond Blue.
• A multi-cultural day celebrating the variety of cultures in Australia. Sharing cultural food and dances.
• Setting up a support group in school (Helping Hand) to discuss issues. Invite guest speakers to share their own stories involving drugs, alcohol and peer pressure.
• Start up a gaming night at the community centre. X-box, Wi competition (once a month). Money from the event will go to worthy causes such as organisations dealing with disability.
• Hold an event to bring the community into a celebration that is non-alcoholic and drug free. Involving guest speakers. Spread the word of having fun without abusing substances.
• Arranging Autism awareness nights and developing a petition to take to the local MP in the hope of increasing income streams to this issue.
• Raise awareness and extend an existing Yr 11 girls program “The Kites” – (Flying High) to more young people. Dealing with issues such as ‘how to be happy’, ‘the value of education’ etc.
• Improve the existing youth centre. Making the space bigger, improving programs, running workshops, better image for young people.

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