Wollongong Youth Services recently joined forces with Office for Youth and the Australian School of Entrepreneurship (ASE) to empower young people with the skills and confidence to navigate life and future aspirations.
In June, 70 local high school students across Years 7-12 attended two full-day workshops at the Wollongong Youth Centre, to help build their interpersonal skills and provide practical techniques for their personal and professional life.
At the first workshop (10 June), students went through general life skills such as professional behaviour, problem solving, self-reflection, conflict resolution and communication.
The second workshop (17 June) was aimed more at leadership skills, with students taught how to build their confidence, self-awareness, and leadership capability.
The workshops come on the back off a 4-week program in May 2026 that our Youth Services team delivered for Year 11 students at Corrimal High School. For one hour each week, students learnt about different skills to support their transition into adulthood, like resumes and job searching, resilience and communication techniques and budgeting.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown was delighted that a range of students put their hands up to join the free workshops and enjoy a different classroom for a day, or even two.
"We're grateful for the partnership with Office of Youth to deliver dedicated courses for young people, it was an amazing learning opportunity for all," Cr Brown said.
"We never know what life is going to throw at us, so teaching practical methods and techniques early on for teenagers can make a real difference in how they approach adulthood. It sets a foundation that they can develop on as they go through different life experiences.
"We're committed to continue delivering programs and workshops that can uplift young people. They are an important part of our community and are key to building a stronger future for Wollongong."
Image: Lord Mayor Cr Brown with students at the Life Skills workshop for leadership.
Wollongong City Council partnered with Office for Youth, who supported the workshops to bring students together from across Wollongong for an immersive learning experience that focused on personal development and leadership.
NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, Katherine McKernan, said, "It's exciting to see young people from across Wollongong coming together to learn, connect and grow.
"We know that when young people are supported to build confidence, resilience and leadership capability, they are better equipped to contribute positively to their communities," she said.
"These workshops provide practical tools that can help them succeed in education, employment and their communities."
