Leadership program funding set to end

STATE Government funding for the Future Shapers leadership program will end this June.

The move was part of Tuesday’s State budget which included an announcement that funding for regional community leadership programs will end this financial year.

The Committee for Ballarat, which runs the Future Shapers, intends to continue providing necessary funds so the program can be delivered for the rest of 2023.

“The Future Shapers participants in 2023 will not be disadvantaged by this budget decision and we look forward to the outstanding work of this program continuing,” said Committee for Ballarat CEO Michael Poulton.

“Future Shapers is part of a broader statewide network of Victorian regional community leadership programs and this decision comes as a blow to all regional communities and the more than 200 current participants across the state.”

Mr Poulton said the Committee will now look at other options to keep the program running.

“As chair of the statewide network and together with all other regions, we will now urgently work with Regional Development Victoria took at any possible support that may be available to assist the programs as they continue to deliver their commitments in 2023,” he said.

Ballarat’s program began in 2006 and more than 400 participants have completed it, with many entering senior leadership positions in the Ballarat community.

“A study in 2022 concluded that annually over $158 million of statewide public value was delivered through the RCLP [regional community leadership programs] alumni and program participants,” said Mr Poulton.