'Emerge'-ing Into A Leader....

22 Oct 2010: Throughout the year, I have been attending a leadership course called Emerge. It is organised through the Spastic Centre, together with ING Direct, and is designed predominately for young people with Cerebral Palsy.

The program, which runs for a year, exists to help groom enthusiastic leaders of the future, to gain confidence and knowledge of how to succeed in life and their career.

Each ‘coach-ee’ is paired up with their own ‘coach’ at the start of the year. Meetings are undertaken each fortnight to learn, expand and discuss leadership skills, whilst also having fun with team building activities.

I wrote a blog about a learning experience I had with the Emerge course, earlier this year, called Hope Street, it can be viewed here - http://www.candoability.com.au/CDA/Blog/Hope-Street_79.html

I am coming to the end of my time with the Emerge course, finishing up in November. To celebrate, we are having a closing retreat, to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Baulkham Hills, in Sydney’s west.

Emerge is also holding their 2nd conference there, on Saturday 20th November. This will give other people with disabilities a chance to see what the Emerge program is all about. They will also be inspired and be able to learn some leadership skills themselves, but above all, everyone will have a great time!

There are going to be some guest keynote speakers, including:

Sam Cawthorn, a CEO for Empowering Enterprises, he has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times. Just 3 and a half years ago, he died in a major car accident, yet after a week in a coma, 5 months in hospital and a year in a wheelchair, Sam tells his amazing story of resilience, after doctors said that he would never survive.

Brett Murray, who is an incredible individual, he has turned an adverse upbringing into an inspiring life. Four times nominee for Australian of the year Brett Murray, is one of the nation’s most sought after speakers.

Lindy Hou OAM, Paralympic Champion, World Champion Tandem Cyclist, massage therapist, motivational speaker, legally blind…along with her dog Harper!

One of the current Emerge coach-ee’s; Dean Loader-Nash, will be performing with his band – Troubadour, I will be doing a talk about my life and how I have gotten to where I am today, and finishing up the conference, will be a performance by award winning Sydney Hip Hop artist; ‘Morganics’.

The full program for the day is below:

9.00 – 10.00am Registration for Emerge Conference
10.00 – 10.15am Opening of Conference with Comedian Emcee Billy Freeman
10.15 – 11.00am Brett Murray - keynote
11.00 – 11.30am MORNING TEA
11.30 – 11.40am Postcard Session – Katrina Lancaster
11.40 – 11.55am Entertainment – Troubadour: Dean Loader-Nash + guitarist
11.55 – 12.40pm Lindy Hou OAM - keynote
12.40 – 1.30pm LUNCH
1.30 – 2.20pm Forum: facilitated by a surprise guest and the Emerge Participants, with Fever Picture
2.20 – 2.30pm Postcard Session – Jodie De Ruvo
2.30 – 3.00pm Sam Cawthorn – keynote
3.00 – 3.15pm AFTERNOON TEA
3.15 – 4.00pm Entertainment – Australian Hip Hop Artist Morganics
4.00pm Conference ends

The cost to attend the conference is $20 this will cover the whole day’s activities and entertainment, including morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. If you are interested in attending the Emerge conference, or know someone who has a connection to disabilities that would be interested, please contact:

Peter Horsley - Phone: 9975 8466 or Email: phorsley@tscnsw.org.au Fax: 9975 8420 or
Josh Page – Email: jpage@tscnsw.org.au and request a registration form.

Completed registration forms can be posted to:

Peter Horsley
The Spastic Centre
PO Box 184
Brookvale NSW 2100

But be fast, as there are only limited spots available!

Sam Cawthorn


'Emerge'-ing Into A Leader....


'Emerge'-ing Into A Leader....


'Emerge'-ing Into A Leader....


'Emerge'-ing Into A Leader....