Community Leadership Program

Course details

The City of Whittlesea's Community Leadership Program will build your skills to get more involved and make a difference in your community. This free program is for locals who want to lead community projects, establish personal and professional connections and learn more about local government.

The Community Leadership Program contains a series of courses designed to educate and equip those with an interest in community leadership to take the next step in developing their skills.

The 2023 Program is delivered in two different options:

Program 1 – weekly, May to August

• Enabling Leadership: four online sessions 6 to 7pm on Wednesdays in May (mandatory)

Then you will choose to participate in one or both of the following courses:

• Empowering Leadership: five online and one in-person sessions 6 to 8pm on Wednesday evenings from June to August
• Engaging Leadership: five online and one in-person sessions 6 to 8pm on Thursday evenings from June to August

Program 2 – Saturday intensives in August

• Enabling Leadership: online 10am to 4pm, Saturday 5 August (mandatory)

Then you will choose to participate in one or both of the following courses:

• Engaging Leadership: in-person 10am to 4pm, Saturday 12 August
• Empowering Leadership: in-person 10am to 4pm, Saturday 19 August

 Previous participants from 2022 are invited to undertake refresher courses from either of the Program options above, register your interest below.

 

About the courses

Enabling Leadership

The Enabling Leadership course, delivered by Latrobe University Business School, is split into three broad subjects delivered online over four weeks. Leading Self explores the way we lead and encourages us to question and reflect on our personal leadership style; Leading Others examines the evolution of leadership and critically examines the characteristics of successful teams; Leading for Results explores our strategic alignment to goals and actions, as well as understanding the fundamentals of strategy and business models. Subjects in the course are part of the La Trobe Master of Business Administration course. In addition, there is a session on Understanding Local Council and why it matters.

Empowering Leadership

This course will develop your knowledge of the system of local government and good governance, to empower you to work within Council, as candidates, councillors or stakeholders. Delivered by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the course will cover the following topics:

• Good governance and how to navigate local government;
• How to action and influence change at Council;
• Developing a toolkit of skills and knowledge to work closely with local government, from sitting on an advisory committee through to becoming a candidate in the local election.

Engaging Leadership

This course will focus on developing practical skills, personal abilities and networks to enable you to work with community and create positive change. Delivered by The Public Value Studio, this six-week course will feature a mix of both online and in person sessions with local case studies and speakers to build practical knowledge based on real world experiences.  

Watch what former participants have to say about the Community Leadership Program. 

Who is eligible

The Community Leadership Program aims to represent City of Whittlesea’s diversity and is inclusive of all genders, age groups (18+), abilities, cultures and backgrounds.

Support will be available for all participants to help you attend. Please talk to us about your accessibility or other needs, such as child-minding for in-person sessions, so that we can ensure you can actively participate.

If you are a City of Whittlesea resident aged 18 years or over who:

• Has an interest in developing your own and other people’s leadership in the community
• Are motivated to participate and engage in community life
• Have a desire to use your skills to make a difference and enhance the local community
• Can commit to attending all the workshops

We want you to apply!

*Please note, individuals who did not comply with governance conditions from previous elected or selected local government positions or individuals who have not complied with grant acquittal conditions from previous City of Whittlesea funding cannot apply.

Information for applicants

Expressions of Interest are now closed for the program.

Those who have applied should have received an instant confirmation of your submission. A staff member will be in contact with you via email to confirm which program option you are interested in.

Selection process:

There are a limited number of places available in each course. Participants will be selected through an Expression of Interest process which may include informal interviews.

As well as the eligibility criteria listed above the selection panel will also consider:

• Geographical representation from across the City of Whittlesea
• A range of cultural backgrounds, abilities, genders and ages
• Diversity of personal and life experiences.

Full program details will be provided on acceptance of a program place.

For further information please email communityplanning@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 9217 2170