Youth

The Rotary Club of Dubbo South facilitates many programs for students in the community to assist them to grow and learn. Programs include the international Rotary Youth Exchange Program, the Science and Engineering Challenge, public speaking competition, sponsorship to the National Youth Science Forum, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and the driver safety program RYDA.

Rotary youth program of enrichment

RYPEN assists young Australians aged 13-17 to:

  • develop a greater sense of self-awareness.
  • Appreciate diversity in society
  • Realise their own and other’s potential.
The program is run over 2 days commencing on a Friday afternoon and finishing on Sunday afternoon.

It offers a variety of activities that allow participants to increase their knowledge and improve their skills in leadership, team building, problem solving and creative thinking. Participants also learn about understanding others. 

DATES: 14-16 June 2024
VENUE: The Francis Retreat
2 Thomson Place, Bonny Hills NSW 2445
COST OF THE PROGRAM: $350.00 per participant.
Participants may approach their local Rotary club for sponsorship.

Science and engineering challenge

The combined Rotary Clubs of Dubbo and the  University of Newcastle have been staging the SEC in Dubbo since 2000. The Program gives an opportunity for students from yrs 9-10 to compete in the challenge and yrs 6-7, the discovery days, with the aim of generating interest in STEM subjects. Evidence for studies undertaken by UoN have shown that the Challenge is influential when students, who have attended the SEC, decide on the subjects they would like to study in senior high school and at university. The four days of competition are overseen by volunteers from the Rotary Clubs and facilitators from UoN who undertake to guide the students through their activities. Each activity is marked and trophies are given to the schools earning top marks on each of the days. School teams may, if they score well, go onto regional, state and national finals over the course of the year. The event is sponsored by a number of businesses in Dubbo who provide financial and manpower support. 

Rotary Youth Exchange

This year we welcome Friedericke, our international exchange student from Emden, Germany, to our club. Learn more about Friedericke and why she chose to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange. 

Are you aged between 15 - 17 years of age and are you interested in Youth Exchange? 

Expressions of interest are being accepted now for:

Short term (3 months) leaving October 2024 to Germany; or
Long term (12 months) leaving January 2025

We are currently exchanging with Brazil, Belgium, France, Poland, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, Denmark, Japan & Taiwan. 

National youth science forum

The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a not-for-profit organisation that runs a number of programs to encourage young people in their passion for science. Each year the Rotary Club of Dubbo South sponsors students to attend. Students usually report back that they enjoyed the week and it has inspired them for their future studies. 

If you are interested please email us your details. 

Rotary High Schools Public Speaking Challenge

The Rotary Club of Dubbo South supports high school students in honing their public speaking skills by participating in the High Schools Public Speaking Challenge.

Students in years 9 - 12 can participate in the challenge. The competition is held on 4 levels - Club, Area Final, District Semi-Finals and District Final.

We encourage students and teachers to let us know of their interest in participating in the challenge. 

Rotary Youth Exchange

This year we sent Seamus off to Belgium. Learn more about our outbound international exchange student Seamus and why he chose to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange. 

Are you aged between 15 - 17 years of age and are you interested in Youth Exchange? 

Expressions of interest are being accepted now for:

Short term (3 months) leaving October 2024 to Germany; or
Long term (12 months) leaving January 2025

We are currently exchanging with Brazil, Belgium, France, Poland, Czechia, Germany, Mexico, Denmark, Japan & Taiwan. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

RYLA aims:

  • To demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth
  • To encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth
  • To provide leadership training experience for young people to assist them to be actively and effectively involved with their communities and their work place.

RYLA 2024 is happening Saturday 1st June - Saturday 8th June 2024 at Yarra Adventure Park, Stuarts Point (near Macksville)
(Applications for 2024 have now closed)

  • 19 – 27 year old leaders of the future in your community
  • Cost remains at $1450 – full board, tuition, activities & formal dinner
  • 2024 RYLA Dinner – Wednesday 5th June at Macksville Ex-Services Club, hosted by Rotary Club Nambucca Valley (Information to follow)

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