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LEADERS with CASSANDRA WILSON FROM BECOMING U PROJECT
Hi Scout! VERY EXCITED TO BE CHATTING TO YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU ARE HAVING on the young people in our community!
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efore we hear more them and their families. I really enjoy being about that, can you tell part of their life and finding out their interests, us about yourself? what siblings they have, where they like to go I am 24 years old and on holidays. Being at OOSH I get to encourage have been living in Coffs creative play, have fun, let the kids explore Harbour since I was about new and different experiences and create two years old. I went to Kororo primary an environment where kids can be kids. I school and then onto Jetty for my high school love watching them grow into independent, years. I played netball resilient, and connected but quickly moved young people. across to basketball You mentioned Being at OOSH I as I loved the pace, connection – how do get to encourage fierce competition, you help them with creative play, have fun, and intensity of the this important skill? let the kids explore game. You would find I usually start an new and different me at Sportz Central activity or game and use experiences and create most afternoons and this to bring the kids an environment where weekends. together to start forming kids can be kids. I love At 15 I started friendships. I see who watching them grow working at OOSH (Out is playing together and into independent, of School Hours care) then reference this game resilient, and connected and fell in love with the next time they are young people. the job and the kids. I together to create a also went on to study a talking point. I use these Certificate IV in school activities to teach the education and care and worked as a teacher’s kids about involving others, accepting each aide. I am now leading the OOSH team at other as they are and being respectful. I do Coffs Harbour and find it so rewarding as I love how OOSH has kids from all different help play a part in shaping these young people schools coming each afternoon as it helps widen their friendship circles, encourages into great humans. connection with different kinds of kids and You have been at OOSH for nearly 10 forms support groups that will be so beneficial years what makes it so special? when they reach high school. The kids! I love building relationships with
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What is another skill you try to encourage in these young people? Youth Leadership is an important skill that I try to nurture. There are roles that the young people can try at OOSH to help them with this. There are junior group leaders, helpers, and line leaders. This is where they learn about caring for those younger than them, taking on responsibility and understanding what being a positive mentor means. I have seen so many of the kids start with us when they are in kindergarten and they are nervous, anxious, or shy, and through taking on extra responsibilities under my guidance, now have the confidence to put they hand up for captain and peer support mentors at their schools. Leadership is also a skill that you have learnt in your role, how have you found that? It has been a big learning curve as I went from a peer to now a leader of those peers which can be tricky. But I have found that being honest and transparent, and giving feedback in a positive and respectful way helps. I love working with my team and giving them opportunities to grow themselves, whether that is through leading the mat chats in the afternoon, to creating their own activities and building their relationships with the families. Thanks Scout.
