Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme

The First Peoples Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme is a holistic and equality-based approach to Indigenous scholarships and student development within Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) secondary schools. All First Nations students across the 11 secondary schools in the Diocese are able to join the program.

As an Emerging Leader, each student completes a Personal Leadership Agreement (PLA) with the support of a mentor and their school’s own Emerging Leaders Coordinator.

The Personal Leadership Agreement requires the Emerging Leader to set goals based on the three pillars of the program:

attendance
academic improvement; and
engagement & application.

Once the agreement is in place between the student, their family and the School, Emerging Leaders receive subsidies to participate in activities that support attendance, academic improvement, and engagement & application in:

community service
cultural events and
other experiences.

The Emerging Leaders Program was introduced in 2018 in partnership with the Australian Government and has seen more than 4800 students transition successfully through the program. The Program has currently been extended to December 2026.

We have worked closely with schools to implement the program model in their unique contexts. For some, this has included the mentor programs which enlists the help of volunteer teachers and school staff to provide increased support for the students or to be a named champion for students. For others, this has included the implementation of First Nations Homerooms and First Nations Study Club.

Incentive Levels

Students can move through incentive stages each year based on completion of certain criteria under each of the pillars. The Incentive Scheme is setting High Expectations for our First Nations students and families whilst rewarding and promoting a culture of high attendance, academic improvement and students fully engaged in their schooling and wider community.

PLEASE NOTE:

There are two options for personal incentive goals for students and families: Reimbursement or Pack
For the reimbursement option, Parents and families are required to keep receipts as they purchase goods and/or services towards their child’s Incentive Goal.
Goals cannot be changed without the approval of the Emerging Leaders Coordinator at the College and the Townsville Catholic Education Emerging Leaders Project Officer.
Townsville Catholic Education has the right to amend the program and its requirements when deemed necessary.