Nulsen Youth Patron Program
The Nulsen Youth Patron Program fosters youth leadership, self-development and builds a broader sense of community awareness around disability issues.
The program currently operates at Hale School, Methodist Ladies’ College and All Saints’ College in Western Australia. Each year, students apply for, and are interviewed and selected from the three schools to participate in the Nulsen Youth Patron Program.
The Nulsen Youth Patron Program instils an understanding of how individual and collective social responsibility shapes a civil society in which we can all live and work. It builds awareness of disability and encourages young adults to actively improve the quality of life for people with disability.
This innovative program is the only one of its kind in the disability sector.
About the Nulsen Youth Patron Program
The core component of the program sees residents and Youth Patrons engage and connect through visits to Nulsen homes, and school events such as sports days, arts and music events. Through these interactions, the students develop a greater understanding of the needs, abilities, talents and humanity of people with disability.
Leadership development including learning and practicing the attributes of empathetic and emotionally intelligent leadership is a key feature of the program. Public speaking, presentation and Key Word Sign training is also provided, with the Youth Patrons practicing these skills during formal presentations and events throughout the program.
The program puts the gift of giving in the Youth Patron’s hands, by way of designing, developing and implementing school and community initiatives, which raise support for resident specific needs. Annually across the three programs, the Youth Patrons raise, on average $10,000, which go directly to granting resident wishes which include dance and art classes, holidays to visit family and friends, and items to pursue talents and passions.
Year on year, the program expands the circle of influence continuing to build awareness and understanding of disability in the school and West Australian community.
“In my view, the true value of the Nulsen program is in its ability to immerse participants into a space where they gain a deep understanding of how people, and society at large, are affected by disability.
I still have a great deal of pride saying I was involved with Nulsen as a Youth Patron, and am supremely grateful for its part in shaping me into the person I am.”
Preston Sudlow 
Youth Patron Alumni 2010 from Hale School
Want to know more?
To learn more about the Nulsen Youth Patron Program, call Nulsen on 6253 4700 and ask to speak with the Community Engagement Coordinator.