By Jackson Russell
Students from Broadford Secondary College’s Project Ready program visited Broadford CFA’s new station on Wednesday as part of their volunteering subject.
The program, in its third year, will now see students receive a Certificate II in Active Volunteering.
Students look at different places people volunteer, the ins and outs of volunteering, what makes a good volunteer, the policies and procedures, rights and responsibilities, why would people volunteer, the benefits and local opportunities for volunteering.
Project Ready facilitator Wendy Hopkins said students also received a talk from Kilmore SES unit controller John Simpson and will visit the Broadford Salvation Army Op Shop.
“I thought the CFA would be particularly good for this group because a lot of them want to do hands on things,” she said.
“Some volunteering places don’t take under 18s but the CFA does so that’s also excellent and something hands on they might be interested in.”
Broadford CFA community education officer Gaybrielle Burgess spoke to students about what being a volunteer firefighter means and what a volunteer firefighter’s responsibilities are, including the non-operative side of the brigade such as community education, maintenance and fundraising.
“I hope the kids got a lot out of it. If I’ve encouraged at least one student to give it a go, then I’m a very happy volunteer,” Ms Burgess said.
“I’m hoping that we continue to carry on with this program with the local brigade, the Broadford Living and Learning Centre and Broadford Secondary College. It’s a big step in the right direction for educating teenagers.”
Project Ready is a program run in collaboration between Broadford Secondary College and the Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network.
It’s designed to get them ready for the world of work, career, education and volunteering.
Later in the program, students will look into career option and personal development and come up with a community project which will count to their volunteering.
This is the third year it’s running in Broadford and I’ve been fortunate enough to do it each time,” Ms Hopkins said.
“This year is a little different because it’s now become a Cert II in Active Volunteering so it’s expanded, it’s got additional content and gone up a few notches.”
