North West Area teamwork program

Abseiling - one of the many team-building activities held over the three days.

Photos and words by Keith Pakenham

Thirteen CFA members from the North West attended a teamwork program from 7-9 November at a private property on the edge of the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, 70km south of Mildura.

The three-day event covered the key elements of structured goal-focused play and the ingredients of team-building, and how they provide top results when teams are focused together. Classroom sessions mixed with mental and physical challenges were spread over the three days, and involved performing things way outside of most members’ normal daily routines. This included abseiling, a stepping stones exercise, a maze game and canoeing, with a few other surprises thrown in as well.

The team challenges and debriefs highlighted the principles of good teamwork in action, along with the importance of being a builder of trust in any team and to promote an environment where good teamwork will foster and grow.

The program finished with an expedition to test the team’s capacity to work within the principles set out for high performance operation and to demonstrate that extraordinary results can be achieved by good people working together with a real spirit of cooperation.

Although the members covered a wide age group and a mix of genders, many bonds and friendships were formed during the sessions and meals held on-camp. It was a great session ran by three top instructors who seemed to have as much fun as the participants involved.