In the news

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: Coaching , Community, Life skills , Research 

Innovation has become a positive buzzword in the business world. Everyone wants to innovate. Change, on the other hand, is this confronting state we need to try and 'manage'.

• Written by
• Category: Coaching , Community, Life skills 

On Tuesday 11 February we launched our first round of programs for 2020 with a community project workshop day.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Coaching 

On Wednesday 19 November 2019, we hosted an event featuring Dr. Sean O’Connor who spoke on the topic of effective approaches to organisational change. Dr. Sean O’Connor presented an incredible seminar on how to effectively coach people and organisations through change, with a focus on his breakthrough PhD research ‘The Coaching Ripple Effect’.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Coaching , Community, Fundraising , Research 

As we welcome a new year, Kim gives an overview on how The Helmsman Project is kickstarting 2020.

• Written by Leanne Pickering
• Category: Coaching , Community, Life skills 

The Technical Training Branch at Endeavour Energy conducted a 6-week program with some Year 9 Helmsman students. The program was designed to teach skills to manage risks, build confidence and prepare young people for employment.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Adventure education , Coaching , Community, Life skills 

On Wednesday 4 December, The Helmsman Project celebrated 63 young people from schools across Western Sydney completing our program. The Helmsman Project graduation is a highly anticipated event. It gives everyone an opportunity to hear directly from the students the impact the program has had on them.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Community, Fundraising 

As we farewell another year, the time is ripe to take stock on where we are...

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

We are extremely privileged at The Helmsman Project to have a close community of truly remarkable individuals supporting our work. One of these is Dr Sean O’Connor...

• Written by Zena Dabaja
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Community

Zena shares her reflection on the impact The Helmsman Project has not only on the participants, but the surrounding community.

• Written by
• Category: Coaching , Community, Fundraising 

We have received excellent news from our Birrong Girls group who recently held a fundraising event as part of their community project. 

• Written by Tonnie Slater
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Community

• Written by
• Category: Community, Fundraising 

We recently received exciting news that The Helmsman Project has been selected to receive a Community Grant from the Westpac Foundation for 2019. 

• Written by
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Community

The Helmsman Project Youth Board was given the opportunity to run a two-hour workshop with 60 professionals from Macquarie Bank global offices.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: Fundraising 

Whether we talk about technology, climate, politics, global demographics, the way we consume or socialise, the rhetoric is the same: change is now the norm. In this reality, some see the opportunities, others are left behind.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Adventure education , Life skills 

After many weeks of excitement and anticipation our three current groups recently completed their outdoor adventure education component of the program.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: Community, Fundraising 

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Community, Fundraising 

We are very excited to announce Atlassian Foundation as a funding partner of The Helmsman Project.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: Coaching , Community

Kim's summary and reflection on attending the community project workshop day for our second wave of programs in 2019.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

• Written by
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

Monday 22 July marked six years since the launch of our very first Helmsman Project program and we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on our journey.

• Written by Matt Robinson
• Category: Coaching 

Matt Robinson has coached on a number of The Helmsman Project programs since 2016 and has recently joined The Helmsman team. Here's a reflection from Matt on his coaching experiences with young people in Western Sydney.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

Kim outlines The Helmsman Project's key focuses underpinning the goals of scale and growth.

• Written by
• Category: Community, Fundraising 

On Friday 21 June, Goodman Foundation hosted their annual bake-off fundraiser in support of The Helmsman Project.

• Written by
• Category: Coaching , Community, Life skills 

We are proud to present the completed community project from our Term 1 2019 Cumberland high school boys group.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

Kim addresses the challenges faced by charities in Australia, touching on how The Helmsman Project manages these and the important role of strategy. 

• Written by Bindi Newman
• Category: Coaching , Fundraising 

Bindi Newman volunteered with The Helmsman Project coaching team in 2018, coaching on one of our programs with Strathfield South High School. Here's Bindi's reflection on her experience coaching with us.

• Written by Jemma Gilligan
• Category: Life skills 

Jemma joined The Helmsman Project for a week of work experience in October 2018. Jemma reflects on the valuable experiences and lessons she gained during her week with us.

• Written by Robert Milne
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Community

In my first week at The Helmsman Project I was lucky to visit the schools and meet the students enrolled in our programs. One of the highlights of The Helmsman Project’s program is the community projects which students plan and commit to once the program concludes....

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

This month, The Helmsman Project turns five - an achievement that would not have been possible without the generosity and commitment of many…

• Written by Craig King
• Category: Community

We are so fortunate at The Helmsman Project to be assisted by dedicated, professional and skilled volunteers. We interviewed Craig King, Senior Graphic Designer at Goodman, who designs collateral on a variety of projects for us, and asked him about why he enjoys working with The Helmsman Project.  

• Written by Sean Tedi
• Category: Coaching 

Sean shares his passion for volunteering, his personal drive to give back to community and why he chooses to volunteer with us.

• Written by
• Category: Fundraising 

Justin's life was changed by The Helmsman Project... Make a world of difference before June 30.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

Innovation and growth can only happen when the client's needs or desires are understood. With this thought in mind and in line with our aspiration to continue to impact the lives of our graduates, we recently launched a new and exciting initiative...

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

We have recently held our fourth annual charity dinner, presented at The Funding Network’s Macquarie Foundation event and launched our 10th wave of programs. Amongst all this, we have developed, refined and launched a five-year strategy to support The Helmsman Project to grow and prosper into the future...

• Written by Sheena Polese
• Category: Coaching 

Sheena Polese, one of The Helmsman Project's 2017 volunteers of the year, shares with us what she loves about coaching with The Helmsman Project.

• Written by Sam Evans
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

This year is The Helmsman Project’s fifth anniversary and our organisation has seen many changes as it continues to evolve and develop further into new programs and opportunities. We have seen changes in management, staff, and programs, coupled with increased corporate sponsorship. Most importantly, we have witnessed vast changes in our most recent cohort of graduates.

• Written by Charmaine O'Brien
• Category: Coaching 

Coaching Manager Charmaine O'Brien shares her insights on creativity and its links to coaching and The Helmsman Project.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

We are very excited to be launching a brand new opportunity for graduates of our programs: The Helmsman Project youth board.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

Innovation is at the heart of The Helmsman Project. In line with this focus, we recently held a panel discussion on ‘Innovation in the workplace’ featuring three world leaders in technology: Atlassian, Amazon Web Services and Rackspace. It might be surprising to hear that the main topic discussed wasn't technology...

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Community

We are so fortunate at The Helmsman Project to work with a group of dedicated, professional and skilled volunteers. In this blog, we speak to Corinne O’Sullivan, one of our amazing volunteers, on why she loves sharing her time and talent to helping The Helmsman Project.

• Written by Kim Larochelle
• Category: About The Helmsman Project 

The Helmsman Project celebrated four years of operations last month, a milestone to which more than 120 volunteers have contributed and which has impacted just over 300 young lives. It has been no small feat - hope, self-regulation and resilience have been essential ingredients to our progress.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Adventure education , Coaching , Life skills 

Young people who have been affected by disadvantage have had many experiences that required them to develop a range of coping mechanisms, many of which are admirable life skills. However, it is typical for young people in these circumstances to experience lower levels of support, which makes it difficult for them to realise they possess these valuable attributes. Other life skills may be underdeveloped. For example, the concept of ‘hope’ is closely connected to having a broad perspective of what is possible in the world… And exposure to disadvantage does not typically foster the development of such a perspective.

• Written by Dr Michael Cavanagh
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Life skills 

The Helmsman Project is an innovative blend of developmental coaching and adventure education targeted toward Year 9 students who are at risk of not fulfilling their potential. These students are drawn from schools located in communities affected by disadvantage. At its essence, the program seeks to help the students take bigger perspectives on themselves, others and the world. By doing this we help them build hope, self-regulation and resilience.

• Written by Simon Paterson
• Category: Life skills 

For a community like mine, the Helmsman Project provided opportunities for learning and growth that go beyond what we can deliver at school or at home. This wonderful program unearths hidden strengths and talents, which my students will take with them into their adult lives.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Adventure education , Life skills 

According to some researchers, self-regulation is one of the most important factors for encouraging academic engagement and preventing risky behaviour. While this is a skill that is important in every stage of life, it is particularly important for young people who are making critical decisions about their futures.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: About The Helmsman Project , Adventure education , Life skills 

For those who aren’t familiar with the word ‘helmsman’ it can be a little bit of a tongue twister. The ‘helm’ is what steers a ship, usually it’s a wheel. The ‘helmsman’ is the person in charge of steering the ship. He or she guides the rest of the crew to reach their destination.

• Written by The Helmsman Project
• Category: Fundraising 

As a not-for-profit, The Helmsman Project relies on the generosity of organisations and individuals to make a difference in the lives of young people from communities affected by disadvantage. Every dollar counts so we have come up with a few simple ways you could fundraise for The Helmsman Project.