AS 2024 approaches, Committee for Ballarat members are taking expressions of interest for the next intake of Future Shapers participants.<\/p>\n
The community leadership program\u2019s coordinator Adele Nairn said the aim is to attract a strong cohort, supported by their workplaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst the program\u2019s focused on getting out and exploring what\u2019s happening in the community, our participants learn a very transferrable leadership skillset,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese skills are about being curious and stepping outside their workplace silo to see… how collaboration works in communities, to find good solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important we have amazing organisations continuing to support the program, and putting people through it, but we\u2019re also looking for people who haven\u2019t put people through it before, but want to invest in their employees, and get the best out of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program is not just about skilling up, but creating grassroots networks, and professional peer-to-peer development.<\/p>\n
Ms Nairn said Future Shapers participants work in groups to produce a major project for grassroots benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research tells us when people feel more connected to their community, and like they belong, they want to be there and contribute,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see Future Shapers participants as those who want to take that next step into their contribution to community and workplace.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program was funded by the State Government as part of regional community leadership support, but that ended in mid-2023.<\/p>\n
Ms Nairn said the committee is working with philanthropic and corporate partners to keep it going.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been looking at what and who\u2019s out there, and who\u2019s keen to invest in this type of capability and capacity leadership development,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some fantastic conversations and pleasingly, we\u2019ve already had the City of Ballarat come on board to provide a grant through their community partnerships program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know there\u2019s a lot of organisations that see merit in ensuring we have not only built infrastructure, but social infrastructure of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor place-based solutions to come, we need to ensure we have the right people actively engaged in their community, and actively participating in their community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what this program is about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Visit the Committee for Ballarat website to apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS 2024 approaches, Committee for Ballarat members are taking expressions of interest for the next intake of Future Shapers participants. The community leadership program\u2019s coordinator Adele Nairn said the aim is to attract a strong cohort, supported by their workplaces. \u201cWhilst the program\u2019s focused on getting out and exploring what\u2019s happening in the community, our […]<\/p>\n