Young Forestry Leaders

A steering committee comprising of representatives from ForestWorks, Forest and Forest Industries Council (FFIC), Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) , Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association (TFCA), Forestry Tasmania (FT), Timber Communities Australia (TCA), Beacon Foundation ,Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) and TAFE Tasmania, helped to develop the outline of the programme and secure a successful outcome.

The students had to apply to participate in the programme and went through a careful selection process. Successful applicants participated in three days of industry tours where they observed a wide range of activities including harvesting and haulage, forest growing and management, timber manufacturing and research and development.

At each of the workplaces they met a variety of workers and managers who shared their personal career stories and described the important characteristics of successful employees. Each evening the students participated in structured activities focusing of career planning and industry knowledge. This also meant more contact with industry members who attended in their own time.

The students then had the opportunity to participate in a three day industry work placement. The work placements ranged from accompanying Foresters during a variety of work tasks to working with Diesel Technicians and corporate Media and Public Relations experts.

Five students who excelled throughout the programme were selected to receive $250 bursaries to be used to further their career goals. The bursaries were provided by ForestWorks, TFCA, FFIC, TCA and TCCI.

ForestWorks then successfully applied for funding under the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Next Gen Farmers grant to allow further work with the bursary winners to foster and further develop their leadership and representational skills.

During 2009

James Scott (as one of the original bursary winners) has since been successful in securing an apprenticeship as a Diesel Technician. As he is no longer able to participate in the program, it was decided to extend the opportunity to two participants from Campbelltown District High, who had been identified as high achievers during the 2008 program. The 2008 bursary winners were:

Oatlands High School

• Daniel Scott (TCCI Bursary)
• Amanda Hazelwood (TFCA Bursary)
• Hannah Wiggins (FFIC Bursary)
• James Scott (TCA Bursary). James has started his apprenticeship as a diesel fitter

Campbell Town High

• Corey Moriarty (ForestWorks Bursary)

High achievers joining the bursary winners for the 2009 programme

Campbell Town High

• Abby Hay
• Jessikah Newman
  

2009 Project Activities

• Participate in the half day mentoring session with Tasmanian forest industries leaders identifying key themes in leadership development, career and personal goal setting
• Attendance at the two day Youth Leadership conference in Launceston Students will participate in a further half day workshop facilitated by ForestWorks in Tasmania to review the outcomes of the conference and to participate in the development of their own leadership, career and personal development plan.
• Participate in a half day mentoring session with Tasmanian experts in sustainability in the forest industries prior to attending the Forest Industries national Conference, hosted by ForestWorks.
• Attend the Forest Industries National Conference in Canberra – visit parliament house, and meet industry and government representatives.Following the conference, students will participate in a further half day workshop facilitated by ForestWorks to review the outcomes of the conference and to participate in the development of their own plans for sustainability to enhance their career and personal development plans.
• Students will present a session on the experience they have been involved in during the project to their respective schools and invited local community members and leaders and report on how the Grow Your Career project has assisted them in furthering their career aspirations

This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under its Australia’s Farming Future program.