Recently, I returned from being out in the field with some young people hiking for eight days in the Flinders Ranges with Operation Flinders.

On this trip, we had a peer group mentor in our group. A PGM is a young person who has been on the trip previously as a participant, and walks again as a mentor to the participants on the exercise. It’s a great program, and the PGM’s make a huge difference.

Given the PGM’s are a similar age to the participants, and the fact they have also been in their shoes, means the PGM’s build up connections with the participants really quickly.

Our PGM was a participant on an Operation Flinders exercise only last year, and she made a commitment to come on exercise this year.

What I think makes this even more extraordinary, is the fact that she is in year 12 currently. She’s a very mature young lady.

On every trip the leadership team will identify suitable participants to get involved with the PGM program with Operation Flinders.

It’s of course the participants’ choice whether they want to head down this path.

For those that do, Operation Flinders provides multiple opportunities for individual growth. Also improving confidence and communication skills.

It’s a highly regarded program.

While the core eight-day hiking adventure is the flagship program of Operation Flinders, the peer group mentor program plays a vital role as well.

In my view, the PGM’s that continue to grow and develop have a long lasting impact on those around them, and perhaps some young people in their peer group who aren’t part of the PGM program decide to make changes in their own life.

I’m not so sure if there are comparable programs within agriculture, and I think this segway is a bit tenuous, but perhaps the various training programs offered within the agricultural sector have some similarities.

I am thinking purely in relation to teaching new skills and having mentors on hand to guide people through the process.

Shearing schools and various business development programs are an example.

What these agricultural courses have in common with the PGM program is the ongoing nature of the learnings.

They are normally conducted over a period of at least 12 months, and for some agricultural related courses, much longer.

All these courses are designed to teach technical competency in whatever field it is. The courses also teach an element of confidence building and resilience. This is important in any area of life.

I have seen many examples of young people that have grown and developed when they are shown how to do something, and really start to believe in themselves.

Lots of people have an underlying lack of self-assurance and sometimes this sense of not being enough lingers well into adulthood.

While Operation Flinders doesn’t teach a lot of what I would call technical skills in the initial eight-day hiking program, what it does teach in abundance is that anyone is capable of much more than they think.

Once young people – or anyone for that matter – work out that they are able to do so much more, it’s surprising what happens.