Wagga School Leaders Program 

The Wagga School Leaders Program is a Committee 4 Wagga initiative supported by local businesses and the Charles Sturt University. 

The Program’s objective is to develop young, aspiring high school students into positive, successful ambassadors for the city. Students participating in the program attend seven modules over 7 days across the course of the year, with each module of the curriculum designed to achieve different learning outcomes. 

The Program engages students in a series of challenging mental and physical exercises including abseiling at the Army Recruit Training Centre Kapooka, workshops, lectures, regional industry excursions and mentoring sessions to develop their capacity to become successful leaders and community representatives. 

February 2023 was the eighth intake of the WSLP. Orientation was held on 14th February which saw participants introduced to the program and facilitators and given their first taste of the experiences ahead. The future of the Wagga School Leaders Program is very bright and the benefits to our community will be felt as these young adults become ambassadors for the City of Wagga Wagga.

Wagga School Leader Program Alumni Profiles

Featured
Angus Smith - Wagga School Leaders Graduate 2022
Angus Smith - Wagga School Leaders Graduate 2022

I am currently in year 12 at The Riverina Anglican College and have the opportunity to serve the college as the Service Captain for 2023. I graduated from the Wagga School Leaders Program in 2022 and am beyond honoured to have been a part of such an amazing program!

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The Wagga School Leaders Program was Transformative for Barzan Smoqi

Even as Barzan Smoqi’s palms went slick and his stomach filled with butterflies, he approached the mic on the stage.

If you’d told the Wagga Wagga school kid six months prior that he would be public speaking in any form, he would not have believed you.

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Marina Gabra
Marina Gabra

Meet Marina Gabra, one of our Wagga School Leader Program 2019 Alumni Graduates.

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Modules include

  • Me and my place in the WSLP

  • Me and my place in a team environment

  • Me and my place in a broader leadership context

  • Me and my health and well being

  • Me and my place in the City of Wagga Wagga

  • Me and my place in the Riverina region

  • Forward as an Ambassador for the City of Wagga Wagga


Program Development

  • Committee 4 Wagga

  • CSU

  • ARTC Kapooka

Program School Participants

  • Wagga Wagga High School

  • Mount Austin High School

  • Mater Dei Catholic College

  • The Riverina Anglican College

  • Wagga Wagga Christian College

  • Kildare Catholic College

  • Kooringal High School

Program Sponsors

  • Charles Sturt University

  • Enirgi Power Storage Recycling

  • Estella Rise

  • Bush & Campbell

  • Sureway

  • NSW Government





Recent Wagga School Leaders Program Activity

Featured
Wagga School Leaders Graduation 2024
Wagga School Leaders Graduation 2024

The 2024 Wagga School Leaders Program concluded with a graduation evening at the Magpies Nest Restaurant. The students were joined by proud parents, school principals and co-ordinators, program facilitators and contributors as well as our valued sponsors and dignitaries were there for a night of gratitude and acknowledgement of achievement.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 7
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 7

Moving forward as an ambassador for the city of Wagga Wagga

The students prepared for the final module by starting the day in pairs on the bus trip to Charles Sturt University. During the trip they explored the following questions. What are your emotions as we start our final day of WSLP?

Wagga School Leaders Module 6 at Transgrid Discovery Hub
Wagga School Leaders Module 6 at Transgrid Discovery Hub

Module 6 of the Wagga School Leaders Program was held early in June. At this module the students exployed- “Me and my place in a bigger Environment”. The morning commenced with discussions around intention setting to set the tone for the day.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 5
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 5

Module 5 was all about Who We Are as Citizens of Wagga Wagga.

On May 21st, students began the day at the Museum of the Riverina, with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Mary Atkinson and then Aunty Mary also assisted with a detailed interactive tour with the exhibit designer and Regional Museum Officer, Samantha Leah as well as the Museum Education & Public Programs Officer, Angus Cawdell-Smith.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 4
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 4

Our school leaders had a day of focusing on and learning more about Health and Wellbeing on May 7th at Charles Sturt University. Guest presenter Paralympian Scott Reardon also made a big impression with his advice around mindfulness, gratitude, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 3
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 3

Module 3 of the Wagga School Leaders Program (WSLP) focused on aspects of interpersonal skills and communication, and how to improve them. Students also got to meet their mentors for the first time - current leaders from local businesses and government volunteer their time to offer their own experience and support in developing our future leaders.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 2
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 2

Following a dive into understanding and identifying their personal values and their leadership word, students pushed their limits during Module 2 of the Wagga School Leaders Program during a day of training and teamwork at the Kapooka Army Base.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 1
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 1

Module 1 of the Wagga School Leaders Program kicked off yesterday at Charles Sturt University. Moving on after the ice breaker exercise the cohort spends time establishing their Cohort Charter which will be their guide to refer to for the entirety of the program.

Wagga School Leaders Program Graduation Dinner 2023
Wagga School Leaders Program Graduation Dinner 2023

The 2023 Wagga School Leaders Program concluded with a graduation evening at the Magpies Nest Restaurant. The students were joined by proud parents, school principals and co-ordinators, program facilitators and contributors as well as our valued sponsors and dignitaries were there for a night of gratitude and acknowledgement of achievement.

Wagga School Leaders Program Module 7
Wagga School Leaders Program Module 7

The final module of the Wagga School Leaders Program for 2023 focused on putting the skills developed throughout the program into practice and reflecting on the lessons learned through each of the previous modules.