Effecting community change, one local leader at a time

THE Leadership Ballarat and Western Region experience recommenced face-to-face last week with a new program lead, psychologist Ellen Jackson.

LBWR exists to help develop all sectors’ emerging leaders in the region, specifically focused on community leadership and effecting change surrounding locally important issues.

“We do touch on a range of different issues, from transport and connectivity, to sustainability and the environment, through to social issues, unemployment and mental health. It’s an opportunity to connect and network,” Ms Jackson said.

“What we try to achieve here is move people from intention to action, to understanding issues and their complexities, then we start to think what that means for Ballarat.

“What can we do as a community? What do we do as emerging leaders in that community to start effecting the kind of change that we want to see?”

Wednesday’s session hosted 25 people at the Mercure, with five “Zooming in” online, exploring family and domestic abuse.

Guest speakers were Jess Hill, the author of See What You Made Me Do, Charandev Singh, a human rights activist and paralegal to Rosie Batty, and a panel of LBWR alumni.

“We were fortunate to speak to Jess and Charandev about the complexities of domestic abuse, from the point of view of targets and perpetrators, and the systemic issues,” Ms Jackson said.

“The final chapter of Jess’ book is called Fixing It, so that tied in perfectly.”

Participant Wiremu Rennie took up the leadership opportunity as an outdoor education professional, representing recreation and accommodation venue, Cave Hill Creek.

“The heavy community aspect attracted me to the program. It’s not about leadership in a traditional sense of leading an organisation or telling people what to do. It’s about putting your skills to use to benefit communities,” he said.

“We’re challenged about the ways we think about things. In being here, I can learn different ways to use our business to effect change in the community, and ways in which Cave Hill Creek can be an industry leader even more than we are, to show people best practices.”

Speaking one-on-one with participants like Mr Rennie, Ms Jackson has been energised and inspired by their commitment to make Ballarat an even better place, as she works to assist them in the growth of their professional and personal skills.

“They’re involved in a range of issues, they’re curious, they have a desire to grow as leaders and as people, and want to make a

difference, so props to them for being in that mindset,” she said.

“I’ve worked as a workplace psychologist for the last 20 years, and I think it’s an opportunity for me to give back, and make a difference through the participants.

“I fully appreciate the strong sense of community we have here in Ballarat, it’s a wonderful thing and I think we’re poised to make it an amazing city.”

Visit lbwr.org for more information on the program, an initiative of the Committee for Ballarat.