RLS Clubs Kokoda Challenge
The RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge
'It was such a great experience, I learnt so much from Kokoda, both historically and personally. I especially liked how we were encouraged to set personal goals to change something about our life when we returned. I have come back to Australia and applied for a volunteer internship with UNICEF through my summer holidays and I would never have had the motivation if it were not for Kokoda and the experiences which I had over there. I have also volunteered with Red Cross – it was great how we were encouraged to go back and do something special, as it has made it so much more meaningful to go out and complete volunteer work, hoping that I am helping someone in some small way. Thank you for a fantastic trek, in the future when I come back and trek Kokoda from Ower’s corner back to Kokoda, it will definitely be with Adventure Kokoda'. |
The RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge (KYLC) is an annual peer group leadership program 
sponsored by the RSL Service Clubs Association.
The program is designed for young Australians who have leadership potential. It matters not whether this is regarded as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ potential at the time of selection.
A ‘positive’ leader could be a responsible senior student in a local high school; a volunteer community worker; or a local employee. A ‘negative’ leader could be a young person who has fallen in with the wrong crowd; a referee from a local magistrate; or a member of a local youth organisation working with the disadvantaged such as the PCYC, Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets or Youth Insearch.
The most important factor is they are recognised as having influence amongst their peers.
The objective of the Kokoda Youth Leadership Program is to influence young people to become positive leaders as a result of their Kokoda experience. It is therefore important that each group has a blend of ‘negative’ and ‘positive’ leaders.
Kokoda is a living leadership laboratory for young Australians. There is no other program that combines such a realistic physical challenge with a blend of historical, cultural and environmental learning experiences.
The Program
The RSL Kokoda Youth Challenge Program provides participants with a practical leadership experience based on the achievements and sacrifice of our diggers during the Kokoda campaign. During the program, participants will receive a strategic overview of the Kokoda campaign on arrival in Port Moresby.
During the trek each day will commence with 'Orders'. This is a detailed orders session which covers a particular day of the Kokoda campaign. Orders are given in a military format (Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics and Communications). The situation will be illustrated on a mud model.
Battlesite briefings will be given at each significant location along the track during the day.
'Leadership Reflections' will be conducted at the end of each day. This involves a presentation and discussion on the qualities of brigade, company, platoon and section leaders.
The final session of the program involves a goal-setting program which requires participants to make a commitment to achieving a personal goal and a community service goal after they return to Australia. These will be shared with each sponsoring RSL Service Club.
Each day a participant will be appointed as the team leader. A list of their daily responsibilities will be provided by the Adventure Kokoda Trek Leader.
Community Selection Guidelines
The RSL Kokoda Leadership Challenge Program should be something young Australians aspire to do. The program will only benefit those who appreciate the privilege of being chosen and who are willing to learn about the Kokoda campaign prior to their departure. They should also be willing to commit to a rigorous physical training program to ensure they are physically capable of completing the program.
Applicants should therefore demonstrate a strong desire to participate in the program. This desire can be measured by a willingness to conduct personal research in order to gain an understanding of the Kokoda campaign prior to the final selection of the participants.
Applicants (male and female) should be between 16 and 23 years of age.
The final selection will be made by sponsoring RSL Service Clubs or Adventure Kokoda on their behalf.
The Program
The RSL Kokoda Youth Challenge Program provides participants with a practical leadership experience based on the achievements and sacrifice of our diggers during the Kokoda campaign. During the program, participants will receive a strategic overview of the Kokoda campaign on arrival in Port Moresby.
During the trek each day will commence with 'Orders'. This is a detailed orders session which covers a particular day of the Kokoda campaign. Orders are given in a military format (Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics and Communications). The situation will be illustrated on a mud model.
Battlesite briefings will be given at each significant location along the track during the day.
'Leadership Reflections' will be conducted at the end of each day. This involves a presentation and discussion on the qualities of brigade, company, platoon and section leaders.
The final session of the program involves a goal-setting program which requires participants to make a commitment to achieving a personal goal and a community service goal after they return to Australia. These will be shared with each sponsoring RSL Service Club.
Each day a participant will be appointed as the team leader. A list of their daily responsibilities will be provided by the Adventure Kokoda Trek Leader.
Organisation
The RSL Services Clubs Association is responsible for co-ordinating the program with participating clubs.
RSL Service Clubs are responsible for selecting participants in accordance with the above selection criteria.
Travelscene, Tweed Heads is responsible for all flight arrangements between participants departure airports and Port Moresby.
Adventure Kokoda is responsible for all operational and administrative aspects of the program in Papua New Guinea.
Cost of Program
The price for each participant in the program is $5295 ex-Sydney and $5195 ex-Brisbane. The following items are included in the program:
- Australian Trek Leader
- Public Liability Insurance Cover - $10 million per claim limit
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Return economy airfare between Australia and Papua New Guinea
- Charter aircraft between Port Moresby and Kokoda
- Accommodation on a twin share basis in Port Moresby
- Dinner and breakfast on the first and last day in Port Moresby
- Trek permit and access fees
- Koiari/Orokaiva guides and group carriers
- Camping/trek equipment
- Village guesthouse/tented accommodation along the Track
- All meals during the trek
- Airport/accommodation transfers
- All bus/4 WD transfers between airport, hotel and start/finish of trek
- Kokoda Trek Diary and Guide Notes prepared by Charlie Lynn
- Kokoda Polo-Shirt
- Personal Backpack
- 2-Man insect proof tent (per person)
- Personal sleeping bag and mat
Exclusions
The following items are not included in the price of the program:
- Passport
- A temporary visa for entry into PNG
- Medical Certificate
- Anti-malarial medication as prescribed by participants doctor
- Personal First Aid items (as per the list below)
Personal camping equipment (less backpack, tent, sleeping bag/mat and group cooking equipment)
Post Trek Obligation by Participants
In recognition of the opportunity granted to them by sponsoring RSL Clubs, Kokoda students:
- Are recognized as the sponsoring club’s ambassadors for the next twelve months and should be available to represent the Club at Anzac and Remembrance Day activities;
- are required to make a presentation to the Club’s Board of Directors within 3 months of the conclusion of their trip;
- should be prepared to share the experience with other local RSL and Service Clubs;
- should allow the club use of photographs or material relative to their experience for use in various publications, without cost; and
- be prepared to share verbally or in writing their “life changing experiences” gained from Kokoda with a Board Member or Management team member to allow the club to assess the success or otherwise of it’s commitment to the Kokoda Youth Challenge Program up to two years after the relevant “experience”.
Benefits
Participants in the RSL Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge will gain:
- An appreciation of our military history;
- A respect for the sacrifice made by young Australians of a previous generation;
- An appreciation of a culture whose values are not based on materialism;
- A sense of responsibility for the outcomes of the choices they make;
- An appreciation of the qualities necessary for effective teamwork i.e. loyalty, trust, honesty, courage, leadership, respect, discipline and sacrifice.
- An understanding of the characteristics of Australian leadership;
- An appreciation of the 7 essential understandings of effective leadership (self, others, culture, environment, history, present and future).
- An understanding of the purpose and value of community service.
Dear Charlie 'Well, I did it, and got through it much better than I expected, both physically and mentally. My physical condition was a worry for me considering my level of fitness but I coped better than expected, although I think it is probably easy to forget how hard it was on those really bad days. 'And I tell you what, that feeling you get walking into Kokoda, wow, is that powerful stuff or what! Is that part of the reason you've done it 39 times!!! I guess the biggest thing I've got out of the experience in general is nspiration. I say in general because there are so many things I've got out of it. Definitely life changing stuff!! It was especially important for me because I'm usually (was) a person who just drifts through life, letting opportunities pass by because its so easy to do so. But this time I thought, no, Im never going to have this opportunity again, so go for it, because life is way too short to waste time. And am I grateful for that decision!!!! 'I write to you today because Im on a bit of a mission. There were so many amazing moments during the trek and throughout the whole experience, but one event that stood out to me was the visit to the high schools, Iarowari and Kokoda (middle school I think). In particular, one moment at Iarowari sums up my whole aim here. I was talking to a few of the kids about basically anything we could think of, and we got onto the subject of future aspirations, once we left school, and I asked the guys (and girls) what they'd like to do. Being a narrow minded westerner, I was sort of expecting maybe 'farmer' or the like, but was given answers like doctor, accountant, lawyer, ambassador etc. I think I remarked to one kid who said lawyer that that would require a lot of work, but his response really shook me. "If you believe in your dreams you can do anything." Honestly, in my life, I have never met such a bunch of determined, grateful, inspirational people. It certainly paints a bad picture of Australian teenagers who (like me in some ways) waste opportunities we are given and take them for granted, when these kids, who have come from tough backgrounds, are so grateful for what they have. They're my heroes! And so, if I can do anything to help these kids, I'm gonna do it! 'What I would like to do is the following. John pointed out to us that doing things for the kids who were brave enough to come up and talk to us is unfair, and I completely agree. So I'd like to do things that benefit the whole school. I've sort of come up with the following ideas, and would like to know what you think re appropriatness etc:
'These are all just ideas I was sort of pondering on, and my principal has suggested the possibility of the SRC being able to help out, but basically I just want to help in any way I can, because with kids so determined as that, they deserve every opportunity they can get. So basically I was just wanting to seek your opinion on this and whether or not my ideas are appropriate. And finally, thank you for this life-changing opportunity, I am very grateful. In a way, its changed my whole outlook on life! Cheers |
Disclaimer
Neither Adventure Kokoda nor the RSL Services Clubs Association who organise the 'Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge' has any association with the Queensland based 'Kokoda Challenge Youth Program'.
The Queensland based organisers 'borrowed' the concept from Adventure Kokoda. We conducted their first program across Kokoda and terminated our relationship with them immediately after it was completed.
The following year the Queensland based organisers utilised another Australian company - 'Our Spirit - who also terminated their relationship with them immediatley after it was completed.
We do not subscribe to their 'modus operandi'.
Further Information
Further information on the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge Program can be obtained from:
Graeme Carroll
RSL & Services Clubs Association Limited
Suite 344
9 Crofts Avenue
HURSTVILLE, NSW 2220
02 9579 4555
email: graemec@rslservicesclubs.com.au
www.rslservicesclubs.com.au.