A program designed to foster leadership potential in the city's high school students has had to be suspended and re-assessed amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
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Chosen from across Wagga's schools, 19 students in year 11 were taking part in the annual Committee 4 Wagga Youth Leaders Program.
Having completed two of their seven modules, by the end of this term they were to meet their halfway point. But all of that has had to change.
"Realistically, it needs to be modified under the current situation," said Committee 4 Wagga CEO Alan Johnston.
"We have to change the delivery option [but] the program is very much face-to-face, working together in groups and teams. That's a strong part of the context. So if that's not possible, what can be tailored?"
After six years of operation, the program has recently been granted a $95,000 state government grant.
Mr Johnston told The Daily Advertiser the funding had been well-timed to aid as they endeavour to find a way to deliver the course in a new way.
He said the money would be invested in future-proofing the delivery to avoid confronting similar challenges in years to come.
Transitioning to an online learning delivery may not suit the program entirely, with Mr Johnston saying the "strong draw" for the program was that it imparted knowledge "not found in a book".
"It's being in a room together," he said.
"The gala event at the end, that's run by the students and brings together community leaders, students, it's multifaceted.
"There are elements that involve being in businesses around the city, meeting people. There's no clear path and no crystal ball at this point."
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Over the last term, the students completed sessions on effective communication and teamwork.
Early in March, the students travelled to Kapooka army base to take part in the annual defence day training, which is always a standout activity on their calendar.
"The second module at Kapooka certainly makes an impact every year," Mr Johnston said.
"They got to do that one in time, but at that point, we saw the inevitable [lockdown] coming down, so we had to make the call to suspend.
"We made that call early, but it ended up being the only call we could make in the end."
In order to resume the program, the program directors are currently liaising with schools to find an appropriate time and method to meet together once more.
But making any concrete plans has been made difficult in the shifting sands of government restrictions.
"We could make a decision now, but that may change with what the government says next, and how things unfold with getting back to school," Mr Johnston said.
The timing for resumption will prove precarious too, as the students continue their way to their final year of schooling.
"We are mindful that it has been very disrupted, and mindful that we want to have them while they're in year 11 and not impose more stress as they enter the HSC," Mr Johnston said.
"It's not something we want to delay for a long time."