Black Opal receives another sponsorship gem

Aug 30, 2005

Wollongong City Council is the latest organisation to provide major sponsorship to the University of Wollongong Black Opal Leadership Program.

This commitment was officially recognised on 29 August when Wollongong City Council Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Payne, made a visit to UOW to meet the Co-ordinator of the Centre for Student Development, Mr Tony Elshof, and discuss the council's contribution of $75,000 over three years.

Black Opal is a program that focuses on leadership development and is part of global leadership collaboration between UOW and the University of Arizona in the United States. The leadership program will cost about $1.5 million over the first five years, and is funded through a partnership of Wollongong stakeholders: the University, UniCentre, corporate sponsors and students themselves.

The Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Councillor Alex Darling, said Council was delighted to be involved in the program.

"Black Opal is about creating the leaders of tomorrow, and it's encouraging to see the city's businesses getting behind this vital scheme," he said.

"Council enjoys a strong and productive relationship with the University of Wollongong and I commend the University on introducing this innovative program to our city."

The Illawarra Business Chamber is the program's equity sponsor, providing thousands of dollars in scholarships for disadvantaged students. Mark Grimson, IBC's Policy and Projects Manager said this was a great opportunity for Illawarra Business to be investing in people, and IBC was proud to be part of this Wollongong initiative.

The objectives of Black Opal are to nurture the potential of participants, develop them to an employment ready status, facilitate high-level personal growth, create a practice of community engagement, prepare students for life after study and create a culture of proficient leadership in the Wollongong community.

Mr Elshof said Black Opal is helping to put Wollongong on the student leadership map and would continue to drive its reputation as a City of Innovation.

"These students come into this program with the desire to develop their leadership capabilities and this program gives them plenty of opportunity to practise them," he said.