Take part in transformative leadership program

APPLICATIONS for the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program (LMCLP) are open for its 2026 intake.

The LMCLP is a non-profit transformative leadership development program designed to equip passionate, community-minded individuals with the skills, confidence and networks needed to create positive change.

The 2026 program runs from March until November and features diverse subject matter experts, guest speakers, LMCLP graduates and government representatives, with the aim of developing a rich leadership story and context focusing on positive change for participant’s regions.

Program director Jude Hannah (who took part in 2018) said the course involves a combination of face-to-face program days and retreats, which are book-ended with pre and post two-hour Zoom sessions.

“(So) every month we’re either meeting for a one day program day or a three day retreat,” she said.

“We just had one at Billabong Ranch (Echuca) where we dove into leadership issues, particularly around understanding self and the lens that we see the world through, (which) obviously can be very different for each person.

“We also had a program day in Castlemaine where we spoke about what’s happening in that region.

“We do a lot around our Indigenous community, understanding their perspectives and how there’s a big lens shift around what’s going on there as well.”

Ms Hannah said the basis of the program is that leadership is not “one size fits all.”

“It’s really about the fact that we need leaders that can take the back, middle and front seats,” she said.

“It’s not only supplying them with the skills, but also engaging them in topics that are affecting our rural and regional communities.

“It’s not academic at all, it’s about grassroots community leadership and the people who work tirelessly, year after year.”

Applications for the program can be submitted on the Lead Loddon Murray website.