Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
AN INTENSIVE leadership program is helping retain and develop regional leaders in the Limestone Coast.
The inaugural Limestone Coast Local Government Association-backed leadership program aimed to create diverse community leaders by investing in the region’s best assets – its people.
Sixteen participants, guided by seven sessions, have developed their leadership qualities over eight months, with graduates to celebrate Thursday in Naracoorte.
Program participant Michael Millhouse said the initiative opened up pathways previously not available in his day-to-day routine.
“After school there are opportunities to complete further study but you may have to travel to Adelaide, Melbourne or a capital city,” Mr Millhouse said.
“From personal experience, if you decide to stay in the region there is limited potential to develop your skills.
“This program provided a chance for me to transform into a community leader without having to move away and change up my schedule.”
The Beach Energy community scholarship winner said he formed valuable networking contacts through the program, consulting with council chief executives, key regional stakeholders and political representatives.
Program coordinator Ali Auld said one main aspect of the program was for participants to complete a community action project.
“From the beginning participants evaluated how complex their project was, what angle they were going to tackle it from, what stakeholders were involved and how they were going to develop their research skills,” Ms Auld said.
“This year the four main project topics included housing short falls, engaging young volunteers, supporting start-up businesses and entrepreneurs and waste management.
“Split into four groups, each participant was placed into a topic they had no expertise in to prevent biased opinion and preconceived ideas.”
Completing the waste management community project, Mr Millhouse said the program was not necessarily about the topic, but the “transferable” capabilities he learnt when researching.
“These projects are real-life issues in our community where there are no technical solutions and no quick-fixes,” he said.
“It is about adaptive change which requires education and a mindset shift.”
Mr Millhouse said he was able transferred the program’s skills to his workplace and was also looking at volunteering and valuable committee positions.
“I am also now apart of the large alumi which formed over the three years, with 2019 participates rolling in with 2020 and 2021 attendees creating a group of around 48 like-minded people,” he said.
Applications for next year’s program will open at the end of August with interested participants invited to apply through the Limestone Coast Leadership Program web page.
The program costs around $7000 per person, with various scholarships available upon application.
A graduation for this year’s participants will take place at the Naracoorte Town Hall on Thursday from 6pm where community projects will be presented to the public.
