Max Potential helps shape leaders of tomorrow

Last year's participants and coaches

Max Potential, an innovative youth leadership development program that has been running on the Central Coast since 2003, will kick off on February 24.

As one of Australia’s longest running youth development programs, Max Potential connects high school students with local community and business leaders who are trained as coaches.

The focus is on facilitating personal and professional growth as young adults are matched with dedicated volunteer community coaches.

The 2024 Gosford RSL program will see the 17th year of empowering and nurturing the potential of high school students from 16 local schools helping them become effective leaders and confident individuals in our community.

This year the cohort will comprise 33 young adults and 33 community coaches, with two coaches still needed.

“Our program is sponsored by our major sponsor Gosford RSL, along with other sponsors such as Central Coast Council, Ettalong Diggers and The Entertainment Grounds who have enabled us to deliver the program for the past 16 years,” owner and director Carla Wilson said.

“The generous funding allows us to provide scholarship positions to both young adults and commuting coaches, so that each participant can join for free.

“Max Potential has been designed specifically for our Generation Z – to provide the opportunity to help this generation navigate the complexities and challenges they face.

“We do this by facilitating face-to-face interactions through coaching sessions and workshops, to empower them to build leadership qualities, resilience, self-confidence and provide them with strategies and tools to overcome some of these challenges they are faced with.

“We are committed to understanding the unique qualities, strengths and goals of each young adult and to intentionally invest in their personal growth by going just beyond the surface – this is where we see real transformation, change and authenticity.

“We invite community members and local business leaders to join us as community coaches, to actively contribute to the well-being of our community as they initiate and drive positive transformation in our next generation of leaders.

“As a community coach you will be professionally trained and over the course of 22 weeks you will have the opportunity to coach a young adult in pursuit of their goals and the development of a community service pitch – an entrepreneurial idea that address a need in our community.”

Coaches will work with the young adults eight times over the 22 weeks.

The program begins at Gosford RSL on February 24 and concludes on August 22 with a celebration day which community members, local businesses, MPs, schools and sponsors will be invited to attend.

For more details on becoming a coach or a sponsor email www.maxpotential.com.au