EPP AUSTRALIA

From time to time, I find myself harbouring a strive drive mentality, a mentality where achievements are paramount and yet quickly forgotten as I move onto the next thing. In an effort to make peace with this well-intentioned, yet sometimes problematic mindset, I am taking this opportunity, as the year comes to an end, to sit and reflect on the journey we've all been on here at EPP Australia in 2019.

When a group of like-hearted folks set out to establish a new EPP Chapter or Affiliate, there is no exact roadmap, just a few who have gone before in other territories and the rest helping to find the path together. For the past two years EPP Australia has worked tirelessly with the loving and persistent presence of three tenacious leaders, Donna Woodrow, Tamara Pickard, and Kyle Winter who have accomplished some major milestones that lay the groundwork of our collective vision this year, namely:

• We officially became a charity organization;
• We have welcomed a new apprenticing EPP Guide, Maria Flynn, who successfully completed her online training and practicum in October; 
• We launched our social media accounts and began communicating with our local supporters in online information sessions; 
• We have established relationships with correctional facilities in four states and put forward two formal proposals for programming, with a third going in before the year's end; and
• We have submitted many grant applications, and have been awarded our first grant!
  

With all of that groundwork established, we feel more than ready and we are even funded to complete our first program in Australia. The biggest lesson that EPP has taught us this year is patience. A big thank you to all of our supporters and those who have reached out to join our efforts. 
“Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.”  - David G. Allen.

"I would like to share my deep gratitude for the opportunity to undertake this training. It is an experience in my life I will never forget and I feel richer for having experienced it. I am so looking forward to continuing the journey with you and I want to extend my offer to help in any way I can to continue to grow EPP worldwide."

-Tamara Pickard
EPP Guide
EPP Australia
Affiliate Leader