Investing in Youth within the Community
Cassowary Coast Regional Council is committed to investing in and supporting youth within our region through Council’s Student Mentorship Program.
The Student Mentorship Program is in partnership with Innisfail State College and is now entering its eighth year.
This program enables students to gain practical experience in a work environment and learn about the different functions Council delivers. It also provides an opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring with Council’s team members to further build skills that are in demand by employers including problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
Division Five Councillor Jeff Baines welcomed the students to Council and encouraged them to immerse themselves in this experience and enjoy the program.
“Council is committed to engaging youth within the region to provide them with opportunities to learn, grow and thrive within our community.
“Our youth are the future representatives of our community and it is important to support them with gaining workplace experiences at a young age to inspire their future careers,” said Councillor Baines.
Innisfail State College (ISC) Head of Junior School and facilitator of Connect Student mentoring program, Kylie Azzopardi said ISC is thankful for the opportunity CCRC provides to our young people.
“Council has been committed to this process from the start and further committed to the future of the program by recently providing additional teams to mentor our students within different sectors of the organisation.
“It is an eye opener for many students over the years, how they connect the school values to the real-world work environment,” said Kylie Azzopardi.
The Student Mentorship Program is delivered over a ten-week period, with students working within Council teams one day per week. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to reflect on their progress each step of the way, so they can grow and evolve and commence their life-long learning journey.
Innisfail State College Year 9 student, Jones Dorrington, who is taking part in the program said his main goal during work experience placement is to build his confidence in the workplace.
“I would also like to better understand what pathways are available to me once school finishes.
“At school, I enjoy English classes, so I am excited to work with Council’s Communication Team to develop my writing skills,” said Jones Dorrington.
Council acknowledges and congratulates the commitment from Innisfail State College over the past years and the students for their participation over those years enabling the program to continue to succeed and grow.