Nulsen Youth Patron Program
The Nulsen Youth Patron Program fosters youth leadership, self-development and builds a broader community awareness of disability issues. Now in its eighth year, this innovative program is still the only one of its kind in the disability sector.
The program currently operates at Hale School and Methodist Ladies College in Western Australia. It builds awareness of disability and encourages young adults to actively improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. It instills an understanding of how individual and collective social responsibility shapes a civil society in which we can all live and work.
Each year, a small number of students from the two schools are chosen to participate in the Nulsen Youth Patron program. Positions in the program are hotly contested as the leadership skills and personal development gained during the year long program see many of the participants go on to assume leadership positions within the schools. This solid foundation from school will see many of the Youth Patrons take a leadership role within their chosen professions and the community.
The Youth Patrons visit Nulsen’s supported living homes and invite Nulsen residents to attend school events such as sports days, arts and music events. Through these interactions the students develop a greater understanding of the needs, abilities, talents and humanity of people living with a disability.
The program develops the leadership and public speaking skills of the Youth Patrons. Public speaking training is provided and the patrons practice these skills during the formal presentations that form part of the program. During the yearlong program, patrons speak at school assemblies, formal functions and to Nulsen staff and undertake fundraising activities to support Nulsen’s work.
To learn more about Nulsen, please visit their website