MEDIA RELEASE
23 March 2005

young leaders building great lives and great communities

The Macarthur Region is the first to offer youth an innovative Personal Leadership Coaching Program. With the assistance of funding from the Commonwealth Government Sustainable Regions Program more than 200 young leaders will MAXIMIZE their lives and leadership potential.

The Macarthur region's first personal leadership coaching program for youth was launched jointly by Pat Farmer MP, Federal Member for Macarthur, and Janice Reid, Vice Chancellor and University President, University of Western Sydney, at the University on Wednesday March 23.

The Maximizing Potential in Macarthur (MPM) project provides young people with dynamic one-on-one coaching, using local volunteer community leaders as trained coaches. MPM is a focused 22-week coaching program that accelerates personal leadership potential in Macarthur's youth.

MPM works to reverse the trend of a lack of purpose in the lives of youth in the region.

The MPM project has been created by a joint initiative between the University of Western Sydney and Future Achievement Australia Pty Ltd with encouraging support from the Macarthur community.

The detailed design and content of the MPM project has been developed by Future Achievement Australia Pty Ltd (FAA), a progressive coaching company. FAA has a strong track-record in corporate coaching and is now applying this capacity to developing community leaders.

FAA Managing Director, Mr Wayne Deeth, believes that building leadership character in young people is the first step in maximizing the region's youth leadership potential.

"The first challenge is to help young people lead their own life effectively", Mr Deeth said. "To do this we use MAXIMIZERS©, an effective personal leadership system built on 10 universal leadership principles."

FAA Director, Diann Feldman, believes the impact on the region's youth will be tangible. "We will be guiding young people to take charge of their own life and success, while at the same time connecting them strongly to their community."

"The benefit of MPM is that youth are able to be coached in the context of their own personal needs and life context", Ms Feldman said.

The MPM Project design also provides opportunity for the youth to expand their developing leadership character through leading a community development project. Each project will be initiated and progressed by the young leaders in conjunction with their coaches.

At the conclusion of the MPM Project, the youth will then share their story of learning and leadership impact in the community by presenting outcomes at a special MPM Showcase Event at the end of November 2005.

MPM will work through schools and TAFE, the university and existing youth support structures within the community, with help from local businesses, leaders and volunteers.

There are still spaces available for volunteers interested in becoming youth coaches. Applications to become a youth coach close on 19 May 2005.

Potential young leaders applications close 2 June 2005. Young leaders are encouraged to talk to their local Principal, University or TAFE representative, or your employer.

For more information on MPM, call Future Achievement Australia Pty Ltd on (02) 9004 7866, locally on (02) 4683 0261, or email mpm@futureachievementaustralia.com.au