Empowering people to transform communities

Mar 7, 2025

The Future Drought Fund is backing a two-day leadership development workshop in Benalla. Photo by STOCK IMAGE

A two-day leadership development workshop will help people who want to play a more active role in the Benalla community and contribute to positive change.

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The Changemaker Workshop is facilitated by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation under the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

It aims to foster self-awareness, community engagement, resilience, leadership skills, and the ability to create positive change while considering diverse perspectives and community wellbeing.

Run in partnership with AgBiz Assist, this workshop is open to individuals who have a strong desire to drive meaningful change within their community, an interest in finding innovative solutions for complex challenges, a commitment to exploring new approaches for building a thriving community, and an interest in driving local action to prepare for drought effectively.

Similar workshops have been held in Finley and Rochester.

Australian Rural Leadership Foundation chief executive Matt Linnegar said the ARLF had delivered more than 126 leadership programs in the past 30 years, dedicated to building thriving rural, regional and remote communities.

“This Changemaker Workshop empowers individuals who wish to make a real difference in their communities by providing them with skills in assessing their region’s readiness for change, positive change agency, purposeful engagement and storytelling to shape communities,” he said.

“We believe that through collaboration and purposeful engagement, positive change is not only possible but also achievable.”

The Changemaker Workshop is a vital component of the $29.6 million Federal Government’s Future Drought Fund supported Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

This initiative combines and builds on previous programs to deliver tailored support in getting agriculture-dependent communities across rural, regional and remote Australia more prepared and resilient to the impacts of drought and changing climate.

The workshop will be held from 8.30am to 4.30pm on March 18 and 19 at the Lakeside Community Centre, Glasshouse Function Room, Benalla Showgrounds, Bridge St West, Benalla.

This is a fully subsidised workshop with catering included across both days.

For more information or to register for this event, visit: https://qrcodes.pro/SLcgeB