Starting young with leadership training
This year marked the seventh year ALC has provided training for Lutheran primary schools in South Australia. In 2013 ALC was approached by Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA (LESNW) to co-lead a student leadership day that encouraged students to learn more about leadership skills and responsibilities from a Christ-centred approach. Over the years ALC’s Director of VET, Emma Graetz, who oversees customised training at ALC, has continued to provide this training for Lutheran primary schools on behalf of LESNW, and has conducted the training in many locations including the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and metropolitan Adelaide. Last year the training was split into two groups (a north and a south location) to provide closer access for schools to attend this training. This year, over 150 primary school students attended the leadership training in South Australia.
A regular attender to this training has been Redeemer Lutheran Primary School, Nuriootpa. Darren Altus, Deputy Principal, shared that ‘the training that Emma provides for student leaders in our Lutheran primary schools is highly engaging, practical and relevant. They come away from the day enthused and better equipped to fulfil their role as a student leader. It is wonderful to see emerging leaders in our schools connect with one another and build their understanding of what it means to lead from a Christian perspective.’
This year also marked a new milestone for the primary school leadership training. An invitation was given by Damon Prenzler, Principal at Nhill Lutheran School, for ALC to come and run this training for the Lutheran primary schools in Western Victoria. Damon had previously seen this training while working at Tatachilla Lutheran College, and saw the value of bringing the training to his new school zone. This training was held at Tandara Lutheran Camp at Halls Gap on 18 July. Damon shared that ‘spending a day at Halls Gap in the winter sunshine enjoying God's creation while emus and kangaroos graze nearby is a pretty special way to spend a day. Even better is when you add over 30 enthusiastic young minds eager to learn about what it means to be an authentic leader in a Lutheran school. Students from 4 Lutheran schools in western Victoria converged on Tandara Camp at Halls Gap to experience a Primary School Leadership Day led by Emma Graetz from Australian Lutheran College. Emma steered the students through the 4 S's of leadership founded in the example of Jesus, which can be applied to their own experiences. Feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive, and all schools appreciate the willingness of Emma to travel to western Victoria to lead this day, and to provide an opportunity for students who would otherwise be unable to travel long distances to experience a day such as this. Schools involved were Nhill Lutheran School, St Peters Dimboola, Holy Trinity Horsham and Tarrington Lutheran School.’
ALC is honoured to be able to provide customised training to many different groups throughout Australia including churches, ministry groups and schools. If you wish to find out more about what training opportunities are available to support your ministry, please visit the Training page on our new website.
