Send an employee or sponsor RYLA
Information for businesses
Soft Skills
RYLA works to develop young people to changemakers who are driven by personal development and professional excellence. To make lasting change across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves, young people need to develop the same soft skills that are needed by businesses all around the country.
Networking
Planning and organising
Empathy and resilience
Self-management
Communication
Teamwork
Problem solving
Goal setting
Conflict resolution
Global leadership
Initiative
Reflective learning
A recent report by Deloitte Access Economics and DeakinCo showed that:
A workforce with a broad mix of skills is crucial for business success and national prosperity. Businesses with more skilled staff have higher rates of innovation and productivity. And academic literature has found a consistent relationship between human capital and economic growth.
Formal qualifications and technical skills are only part of the requirements for modern employees. ‘Soft skills’ and personal attributes are just as important to success. Indeed ten of the sixteen ‘crucial proficiencies in the 21st century’ identified by the World Economic Forum are non-technical.
RYLA develops these soft skills in our participants by bringing together a selection of experts in their fields to deliver topics and interactive sessions. We give participants a safe place to practice these skills with their peers and most importantly, space to stop and reflect each day.
The value of these soft skills are outlined in a report by Deloitte Access Economics and Deakin Co, see: Soft skills for business success
Expression of Interest process
If you would like an employee to attend RYLA, please follow these steps:
- Have the employee complete the Expression of Interest form and submit a $100 attendance payment (refundable if a Rotary Club sponsorship cannot be arranged).
- If you do not already have a sponsoring Rotary Club, the employee will be linked with a local club, which will arrange a meeting to discuss the application.
- The employee will be provided with transport details for the conference. The sponsoring Rotary Club will take them to the designated bus stop.
- The employee will attend RYLA.
Following the conference, the employee will be invited to present at the sponsoring Rotary Club about their RYLA experience and participate in at least two community projects. We also encourage you to attend the presentation and consider having the staff member share their experience at a staff meeting.
Cost
RYLA is a valuable professional and personal development opportunity — offered at no cost to employers. The program is fully funded through community donations and grants.
Participants contribute a $100 refundable deposit when applying, which is returned if a Rotary Club sponsorship cannot be arranged. For your business, the only cost is allowing the employee the time away from work to attend.
We encourage you to support their participation by providing appropriate leave. Your employee will return with strengthened leadership skills, greater confidence, and renewed motivation — benefits that positively impact your workplace and community alike.