BEING with people in their most scared and vulnerable moments, Kayla Manning liked to be able to reassure them they were not alone and her crew was there to help.
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This, to Ms Manning, was what being a passionate community-minded person was all about.
The volunteer firefighter then faced her own vulnerability in undertaking community leadership program Future Shapers (formerly known as Leadership Ballarat and Western Region leaders' forum).
As a firefighter, Ms Manning has helped people trapped in car accidents or those standing on the road watching their house burn. But talking before large rooms full of people, Ms Manning found was a different kind of tough.
On the opening day of the program, she had to share a little about herself but did not look up from her notes once. By the program's official end this week, Ms Manning had addressed a Committee for Ballarat round table function and was a key speaker at graduation on behalf of her cohort.
Small things we can do, can make big impacts...We can be great advocates and spread more awareness.
- Kayla Manning, Future Shapers 2021
"The program helped with my confidence in ways I couldn't imagine and I've been able to grow so much in the program," Ms Manning said.
"I joined and thought I'd just learn what leadership is but we got out there and were doing it. For me, I'd always focused on community in the CFA [Country Fire Authority] but there's so much more we can be doing.
"...There are so many little things out there like Food is Free or Breezeway feeding people. Small things we can do, can make big impacts...We can be great advocates and spread more awareness."
The almost-21-year-old this week graduated Future Shapers on a CFA scholarship as one of the program's youngest participants in its 15-year history.
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Some people had told Ms Manning they thought she might be a bit young to take on the Committee For Ballarat-led program that, while featuring participants from diverse backgrounds, tends to attract emerging leaders towards the mid and latter points of their careers.
Ms Manning quipped she was not a typical 20-year-old - she co-runs a garden landscaping business with her partner and was "usually in bed by nine".
It was in joining the Daylesford CFA at 16 years old that Ms Manning realised the career path she could follow.
The then-Daylesford Secondary College student had aspirations to be a diesel mechanic but instead felt a stronger purpose to helping her community in its most vulnerable times.
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Ms Manning must wait until June before she reaches the age-standard for applying to be a career firefighter.
Taking on Future Shapers might have challenged her perspective on community but it also helped shape Ms Manning to consider how she might evolve as a more skilled leader.
But the best confidence boost for Ms Manning was having a newspaper clipping of this year's Future Shapers pinned to her nan's fridge - a proud achievement.
Applications for Future Shapers 2022 are open until December 17 via committeeforballarat.com. Scholarship opportunities are available.
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