Currently in its 26th year, the program takes emerging leaders, and provides them with a range of opportunities to further develop skills and network with other leaders in their communities.
Goulburn Murray Community Leadership executive officer Nathan Bibby said it was very exciting to be opening applications for next year’s program.
This year, we’ve been making a real effort to immerse our cohort in local communities, which has been enjoyable for the participants and also allowed us to continue building our local connections,” Mr Bibby said.
“Fairley Leadership has already developed over 600 graduates, who now have the skills to positively impact and contribute to the Goulburn Murray Region.
“Our vision is to continue building on this, and provide a greater range of opportunities for our region to develop.
“Many of our communities are still rebuilding from the global pandemic of COVID-19, and we’re facing more challenges ahead of us.
“So it’s more important than ever to be investing in developing leadership skills, and empowering our emerging leaders to make positive change.”
The Fairley Leadership Program is GMCL’s flagship program, which takes its cohort of future leaders on an immersive learning experience.
The program educates emerging leaders about the challenges and opportunities impacting on the Goulburn Murray region, equipping them with the leadership skills to make an impact.
The program runs for 10 months of the calendar year, beginning with inductions in February and ending with a graduation ceremony in late November.
The program offers hybrid learning environments, including face-to-face, online and intensives — where participants gain invaluable access to community leaders, policy makers, and change creators.
2021 Fairley participant Andrew Cooper said he gained the drive to give back to a community that has given so much to himself and many others, and the want to build an adaptive, resilient and attractive region for many years to come.
“I want to develop a skill set and networks that better places me to become a leader within (my) community,’’ Mr Cooper said.
Applicants looking to apply can be sponsored through their workplace to receive a position in the program.
There are also some scholarship positions available and GMCL continues to seek organisations willing to provide scholarships to provide emerging community leaders access to the program.
Participants are selected according to a comprehensive list of criteria, including a demonstrated capacity for leadership, broad ranging interests, and a willingness to sustain positions of responsibility in the community.
People from rural and isolated communities, disadvantaged backgrounds, Aboriginal and ethnically diverse communities are actively encouraged to apply.
GMCL is a registered charity and relies on government and community grants, philanthropic grants, corporate sponsorships and partnerships in order to run programs.
To discuss ways you can support the organisation and its programs contact Nathan Bibby on 0427 515 969 or eo@gmcl.org.au
Applications for the 2023 program are now open. For more information on the program, or to start your application visit www.gmcl.org.au
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