Award for

AN INNOVATIVE youth leadership program run by the City of Greater Dandenong Council has been nationally recognised.
The Council’s Youth Participatory Leadership Program earlier this month scooped the Youth Engagement category at the National Awards for Local Government.
The program aims to instil leadership values in young people, community services director June Dugina said.
“The Youth Participatory Leadership Program, a concept developed by Councillor Clare O’Neil, is a program developed to provide young people in Greater Dandenong, between 15 and 23, with an opportunity to gain confidence, valuable life skills and active participation in their community.”
Greater Dandenong mayor Maria Sampey was on hand in Canberra to collect the award, along with program participant Caleb Garfinkel.
“The program is an excellent example of what can be done to increase the capacity for enterprise in young people,” Cr Sampey said.
Council’s program beat a field of 280 entries from across Australia.