Funding For Alumni Program

20150304 SBCLP — 2015 South Burnett Community Leadership Program participants … back row, from left, Ashleigh Carey, Kelley Crane, Shaun Bliesner, Craig Yarrow, Kevin Gill; middle row, Raj Begeda, Kirstie Davison, Valerie Claydon, Gaye Hobbs, Fay Pouesi, Steph Phipps, Lesley Thun (behind), Narelle Black, Helen Roth, Mark Thompson; front, Deb Sanderson, Shelley Grambower, Katrina Heathwood, Kerry Oldfield, Amy Wicks and Kirstie Schumacher (Photo: Georgie Somerset)

Red Earth Community Foundation chair Georgie Somerset

August 19, 2015

The South Burnett Community Leadership Program (SBCLP) – a project of the Red Earth Community Foundation – has received funding for an alumni program in 2016 as well as evaluation of the leadership program and its impact on the region.

Foundation chair Georgie Somerset said the funding was the next step for the SBCLP, ensuring long-term investment in participants and the South Burnett.

“We have been successful in receiving funding through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) CIRCLE fund,” Mrs Somerset said.

“Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, this grant focuses on leadership and capacity building opportunities for rural, regional and remote communities.

“The SBCLP has previously received funding from FRRR for flood-affected community members to participate, and this grant builds upon the program for the longer term.”

Mrs Somerset said the development of an alumni program would ensure participants in the leadership program would have a structured development program throughout the year.

“Leadership is not a one-off training experience, but a journey we are on, and so gathering together with others, learning new skills and discussing your leadership experiences is also critically important.

“We have an alumni program underway and this will provide a structure and future for it.”

She said the evaluation of the program across time would consider the benefit to the participants and the region, and would cover the the participants from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 programs.

“Evaluation is important for the future development of the program, for those investing in SBCLP, and for our region,” Mrs Somerset said.

Applications for the 2016 South Burnett Community Leadership Program are now open with applications closing in early October.