Barwon Regional Partnership needs new members

THE Barwon Regional Partnership is encouraging experienced and emerging leaders of all ages and backgrounds to apply for a position to help shape their local community.
Applications are now open for the next group of local leaders to fill roles within the Barwon Regional Partnership, with the inaugural group’s four-year term about to come to an end.
The state government established the nine Regional Partnerships in 2016 in recognition that local communities are best placed to understand their region’s challenges and opportunities.
The role of the partnership is to ensure communities have a greater say about what matters to them and that their voices are heard by government.
Over the past four years, the state government has invested in a range of initiatives championed by the Barwon Regional Partnership – which covers the municipalities of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliffe and Colac Otway – including $370 million in funding for Geelong City Deal projects and advocating for youth homelessness prevention initiative The Geelong Project.
The new group of partnership members will be guided by the region’s Outcomes Roadmap – a living document that summarises the outcomes each partnership is striving to achieve. All nine partnerships recently held a regional roundtable with community, business and government leaders to explore local impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and to help support the state government as it plans for recovery.
Outgoing Barwon Regional Partnership chair Kylie Warne said the group provided strategic funding, policy and service delivery advice to the state government.
“We have regular, direct access into government and our influential role has never been more important.
“If you’re a passionate local from within our community and business sectors consider nominating for a position in our partnership, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about our regional challenges and strengths, give back to the community, network and build leadership skills.”
The partnership is encouraging people from diverse backgrounds to apply, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with a disability, Aboriginal people and LGBTIQ community members.
The term of appointment for new members will run until December 31, 2024. Applications close on October 1.
For more information and to apply, head to rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-partnerships.