Meet Lachlan Mittiga.

He is a Year 11 student at Salisbury East High School and the inaugural winner of the Travis Boak Leadership Award – awarded for the most outstanding student in the Empowering Youth program in the first semester.

Power Community Ltd’s youth programs officer Lisa Kennedy says Lachlan grew from a quiet student who was uncertain about his pathway after school into a confident an driven participant by the end of the Empowering Youth program.

“He has grown into an active participator in all aspects of our program, has grown in confidence and is starting to plan for his future,” Lisa said.  

Lachlan now volunteers in his local community, has completed all his schoolwork to an extremely high standard and undertaken multiple work placements, including a day of work experience at Allan Scott Headquarters in Alberton in the graphics department.

A visit to the Port Adelaide Football Club earlier this year saw program participants fortunate enough to hear from AFL legend, Shaun Hart and Lachlan was reserved no more.

“While many of the other participants became quite reserved in his presence, Lachlan stood up as a leader of the group, asked and answered questions and showed a high level on engagement with Shaun,” Lisa said.

So much so, that at the end of the visit, Shaun went out of his way to shake Lachlan’s hand and thank him for his contribution, wishing him all the best for his future.

Lachlan credits the program mentors for his drive to succeed and said the Empowering Youth program was an unforgettable experience.

“The visits from Lisa and Jake to work on character building and smarter living tasks was easily enough to notice their passion for guiding youth in better directions,” he said.

“As the course went on the ever-growing presence of passionate mentors and people who strive to help those around them became impossible to overlook.

“To me the Empowering Youth Program solidified the belief that trying be a good person and staying on the road to self-betterment will pay off.”