Thank you to our regional communities for all your support. The LARC Pilot Program has now concluded.
What was involved?
The Leading Australian Resilient Communities Program (LARC) was a free regional leadership development opportunity delivered in the Western Australian regions of Goldfields-Esperance and Mid West Coastal by Leadership WA. The Program was a national leadership collaboration with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Regional Australia Institute. The initiative was fully funded by the Australian Federal Government as a pilot program.
The LARC Program involved place-based forums, data and insights, as well as a 5-day intensive residential Leadership Program held across two sessions in each region.
It also included a Webinar Series with a regional focus on key issues, open both to participants and the wider community. The webinars remain available for viewing on demand. Please scroll down.
We invited locals over the age of 18 to apply, including current and emerging leaders, those in agribusiness, women, young people, CALD, First Nations members and people with disability and had a wonderful representation from across both regions.
Community Future Forums
The LARC initiative in WA kicked off with one-day regional Future Forums, held in the Goldfields-Esperance and Mid West regions. The Forums included the latest economic and social data compiled by the Regional Australia Institute, along with the use of scenario planning to identify the opportunities and hopes for the region, while enabling participants to connect, undertake interactive learning and feedback experiences and to discuss ways of strengthening the region.
Intensive Leadership Program
The Intensive Leadership Programs was held in two WA regions: the Goldfields-Esperance (Esperance Session 1 & Kalgoorlie Session 2) and Mid West Coastal regions (Geraldton).
It provided the space for a cohort of diverse participants from each region to develop, improve and strengthen their leadership. The Program was a residential experience, including staying in a local hotel and attending the daily workshops and evening dinners as a cohort. Participants were required to attend the both Intensive Sessions, held 3-months apart, along with working together in groups in the intervening months on a community initiative of local significance (as decided by them).
Being involved saw participants build practical skills to contribute to regional resilience, explore leadership and the ways in which their community can continue to come together to respond to challenges and opportunities. It also deepened their connection and grew their networks of local and national support.
Underpinned with local context, the LARC Intensive Leadership Program included exploration of leadership to suit the needs of the community.
60 regional WA participants have successfully graduated from the Program, many having initiated projects in their communities which are still ongoing. Graduates have all become members of the national ARLF Alumni. Two representatives from each WA region will be attending a National Debrief and Celebration in Canberra, to share their experiences and provide insights on the Program.
We congratulate and thank all of our outstanding LARC graduates and their local supporters, and look forward to keeping in touch as they continue to make a difference in their local communities, as well as contribute to wider regional impact.
National Webinar Series
You are invited to view the LARC Webinar Series. The webinars were produced by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) for both Forum and Program participants, as well as the wider community.
These webinars are still available for viewing and we invite you to watch them on demand. Details as follows:
- Facilitating Funding | How to make the most of regional funding opportunities
View on demand: View here
This webinar discusses the pros and cons of funding sources and the ways to streamline sourcing money on behalf of communities.
- Talking Tough Topics | How to have difficult conversations, successfully.
View on demand: View here
This webinar is a practical conversation about setting yourself up to calmly and successfully have the tough conversations that you don’t really want to have.
- Regional Wellbeing | What does wellbeing really mean and how can it be better achieved?
View on demand: View here
This webinar explores the topic with a focus on ways to identify and support wellbeing in the regions.
- Cultivating Connections | Networks, contacts and the power of alumni.
View on demand: View here
This webinar is about the power of an alumni networks, how to continue to cultivate relationships and the collegiality and energy that can come from belonging to a tribe who speak your language.
Federal Government National Pilot Program
The LARC Program was fully funded by the Australian Government as part of the Building Resilient Regional Leaders Initiative. There was no fee to participate.
Thank you to the City of Greater Geraldton, Our Gems WA and Tourism Western Australia for the imagery of the Midwest Coastal and Kalgoorlie-Goldfields regions, included within this page, our print materials and digital adverts.
