Secondary Schools

Building the skills young people need to thrive

Secondary school is a time of significant change. Young people are developing their identity, navigating relationships, making important decisions and beginning to shape their future.

Our Personal Leadership Programs give young people practical skills, strategies and confidence to overcome these challenges, engage positively with education and take greater ownership of their future.

We work in partnership with schools to support young people at different stages of their secondary school journey.

Talk to us about your school

Programs for Secondary Schools

Personal Leadership Program

+ SACE Points

Hear all about the impact of the Personal Leadership Program from our partner school, Gilmore College

The Personal Leadership Program is our core program for secondary school students.

The Program gives young people practical tools to understand themselves, navigate challenges, build confidence, strengthen relationships and take greater ownership of their choices and future.

Delivered weekly across one school term, young people participate in a structured and practical program where they explore who they are, what influences their choices, what they want for their future and how they can take positive action. Students who complete the program earn 10 SACE points, with an additional 10 points available through our two-year Graduate Pathway Program.

Students develop skills to:

Build confidence and self-belief

·         Recognise their strengths and develop greater belief in their ability to influence their future.

Develop motivation and purpose

·         Understand what drives them and develop greater ownership of their choices and actions.

Set goals and make plans

·         Identify what matters to them, set meaningful goals and turn aspirations into achievable steps.

Build positive relationships

·         Strengthen communication, connection and their ability to navigate challenges with others.

Manage challenges and setbacks

·         Develop practical strategies to respond to change, challenges and setbacks.

Take ownership of their future

·         Explore their strengths, aspirations and possibilities and develop the confidence to take action.

At a glance…

Who

Designed primarily for Year 10, but adaptable to different year levels and cohorts

Purpose

Evidence-based curriculum targeting specific student needs, developing the confidence, skills and self-belief to navigate challenges and take ownership of the future

Format

Weekly sessions delivered across one school term

Support

Parent Webinars and Educator Workshops contributing towards staff Personal Development hours, providing practical strategies to support student wellbeing, engagement and personal growth.

Two years of post-Program engagement including multiple scholarship opportunities for all graduates

Curriculum

Aligned with the Australian Curriculum

Delivery

Youth Opportunities-trained facilitators OR trained school staff, with support from Youth Opportunities

Power-Up Program

At a glance…

Who

Year 7 students

Purpose

Supporting the transition into high school

Format

Weekly sessions delivered across one school term

Curriculum

Aligned with the Australian Curriculum

Delivery

Delivered by school staff following Youth Opportunities onboarding and training

Year 7 Transitional Program

The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant milestone. Power-Up supports Year 7 students to navigate this change by building the confidence, skills and relationships they need to make a positive start to high school.

Students develop skills in:

  • Confidence and self-belief

  • Communication and relationships

  • Managing change and challenges

  • Positive decision making

  • Goal setting

  • Personal responsibility

  • Taking ownership of their thoughts and actions

    Power-Up provides students with a strong foundation in Personal Leadership that they can continue to build on throughout their secondary school years.

FAQs

  • Depending on the Program and delivery model, schools can access:

    Program delivery
    The Personal Leadership Program can be delivered by a Youth Opportunities-trained facilitator or by trained school staff supported by Youth Opportunities.

    Program Manuals
    Comprehensive resources to support consistent and engaging delivery.

    Lesson plans and resources
    Structured content and supporting resources to help bring the Program to life, aligned with the Australian Curriculum where applicable.

    Parent and educator resources
    Practical resources and workshops to help reinforce learning beyond the Program sessions.

    School engagement resources
    Marketing and communications collateral to support school-wide awareness and engagement.

    Two years of post-Program engagement
    Ongoing opportunities for graduates to continue developing their Personal Leadership skills, including access to multiple     scholarships for two years post-program, and the opportunity to apply for an annual Adam Scott Foundation Scholarship, covering 100% of university HECS fees up to $75k.

  • Supporting young people can strengthen the whole school community

    When young people develop the confidence, skills and strategies to better understand themselves and respond to challenges, those skills can influence how they engage with education, relationships and the wider school community.

    Our school partners tell us they see young people return to the school environment with a stronger sense of confidence, purpose and ownership.

    Young people have reported positive changes in areas including:

    Confidence

    • Developing greater belief in themselves and their ability to create change.

    Wellbeing

    • Building practical strategies to manage challenges and support their wellbeing.

    Motivation

    • Developing greater motivation and engagement towards school and their future.

    Relationships

    • Strengthening communication and their ability to build positive relationships.

    Future pathways

    • Developing greater clarity, confidence and purpose around what comes next.

  • Our programs can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your schools depending on your cohort and needs of your young people.

    We find that having a conversation with interested partners helps to set the program up for success and determine which is right for your school.

    Please email youth@youthopps.com.au or call us on 08 8240 3133 for a chat.

  • Young people learn strategies to understand themselves, navigate challenges and make positive choices.

    The Personal Leadership Program is grounded in established psychological theories, including motivation, social learning, cognitive behavioural approaches, neuroscience and positive psychology. We translate this evidence into practical tools, activities and conversations that young people can apply to real-life situations, helping them build confidence, manage challenges, make decisions and take action towards their goals.

  • Graduates can continue to build on the skills, confidence and connections they developed through two years of ongoing engagement with Youth Opportunities, including:

    • Workshops & learning opportunities

    • Leadership opportunities

    • Scholarships

    • Ongoing connection through various events and opportunities

    We also provide resources and opportunities for parents, caregivers and educators to help reinforce the skills young people are developing, including:

    • Parent Webinars providing practical insights into supporting young people as they navigate adolescence, challenges and change.

    • Resources and professional development opportunities to help educators reinforce Personal Leadership concepts within the classroom and wider school environment.

The Big 4 Decisions

At the heart of our Programs are four simple decisions that give young people practical tools they can use every day. Together, these four decisions give young people a practical framework they can return to throughout secondary school and into the future:

Decide to be happy

Focus on long-term happiness

Make the best of your current situation

Acknowledge your strengths, affirm yourself, and express gratitude

Decide to goal plan

Set long-term goals and break them down into achievable steps

Find your purpose and increase perseverance and motivation

Decide to send stars

Use positive communication

Improve the quality of your communication, relationships, confidence, and success

Decide to grow

Step out of your comfort zone

Try a new perspective or action to help you achieve your goals

Personal Leadership Program Outcomes

99%

developed strategies for life

99%

improved their communication skills

*Elevate PLP results
Check out our Impact and full list of Outcomes here

92%

are more motivated towards school

  • "I’m passionate about the Youth Opportunities program because its teachings are grounded in positive psychology theories and research. This stood out to me, as my background in positive education is closely linked to positive psychology. Thanks to this evidence-based approach, the program’s impact is long-lasting. We see it in the way young people speak and the growth they’ve experienced. We hear it in the feedback from parents and educators, who share how much confidence their students have gained."

    – Andrew Dunn, Principal, Springbank Secondary College

  • "I faced struggles in organisation and motivation for work—and sometimes everything in life. But this program has helped me find ways to get that motivation and to cope with the bad days better. I feel happier and more motivated in a way I haven’t been in a long time. I can say “I need to do this work” and actually do it with no distractions or excuses. I know what I want my future to look like and how to get there because of the support and the never-giving-up attitude this program gave. Outside of this program, I will use the Sending Stars and Positive Self-Talk—I feel those have impacted me the most."

    - Northern Opportunities Program Graduate

  • "Thanks to Youth Opportunities, I’ve discovered that I want to help others. I want to become a police officer - to be there for people when they are scared, uncertain, or going through the hardest moments of their lives. Now that the program is coming to an end, I know I’ll never forget the lessons I’ve learned, the skills I’ve gained, or the confidence to rise above negativity. I will never stop growing, and I’ll keep changing for the better."

    - Personal Leadership Program Graduate

Get in touch.

Please get in touch if you have any questions - fill out the form or give us a call using the numbers below.