Regional Climate Leadership Program
Community leaders and volunteers have a crucial role to play, by informing and supporting local business and community groups to adapt to changes in our climate.
The Regional Climate Leadership initiative aims to build and strengthen climate change adaptation leadership across the region. The program will bring a diverse range of emerging community leaders together to workshop projects aimed at building local adaptive capacity or delivering local adaption action.
Workshops will allow participants to collaborate, pool resources, develop skills and build networks to maximise immediate adaptation impact and build future adaptive capacity.
Leader profiles
The First Intensive Workshop
Our first residential workshop took place in mid-February and was a hive of activity and bright ideas. Our leaders were introduced to the program, the LEAD facilitators and most importantly, each other!
Our leaders identified their strengths and areas they required improvement and were organised into teams based on compatibility. Each of these teams will spend time discussing an issue that climate change is having on their community and present an adaptation solution or research into the issue.
The inspiring individuals brought forward fresh ideas, new perspectives, and admirable drive to help their communities navigate climate change impacts. We are looking forward to seeing the great projects they create over the coming months.
The second residential workshop will be completed online due to the current COVID-19 measures in place. We will continue to be innovative and find ways to further engage our leaders and support their work.
The Second Intensive Workshops
Since the first residential intensive workshop in Swan Hill, the regional climate leadership program has changed to a digital platform to comply with current circumstances.
The planned workshops have remained focused on influencing change and leading their communities through difficult circumstances.
These themes were presented by expert educators; physiologist Ivan Honey and Homeward Bound CEO inspiring individuals who have demonstrated the themes in their work.
While many were disappointed at not being able to complete the intensive workshops in person there have been some unexpected benefits; namely fewer geographical and time barriers, as well as building skills in online engagement.
Future Intensive Workshops
We had aspirations meet in person for the final two intensives, however, it is looking less likely that this will be able to happen.
The ADAPT team is collaborating with participants and program partners, LEAD Loddon Murray, to change the delivery of the workshops to suit the current circumstances.
We are committed to co-designing the format of the program with the participants to ensure that their goals can be achieved, and they are safe while doing so.
Brochure
Hometowns of our Leaders
Principle Partner
LEAD Loddon Murray is a not for profit organisation, delivering community and leadership development through experiential, place based approaches. With twenty two years’ experience partnering with regional and rural communities, LEAD Loddon Murray is well known in our region for delivery of the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program. Grassroots community development focussed on local people, their confidence, capability and networks in serving their communities is at the heart of LEAD Loddon Murray’s work.
Principles
Community Resilience
Build capacity in our communities in an incremental way, rather than being prompted by severe climate events. To drive greater communication, effective engagement and collaboration across our region.
Leadership
Build capacity for all types of leadership in the region. Climate change adaption action will incur some upfront costs, but in the long term will protect against the loss of health, wellbeing, growth and prosperity.
Equity and fairness
Identify actions to support the most vulnerable people, places and systems that have the least capability to act on impacts of climate change.
Connecting networks
Connecting motivated leaders into strong peer networks to reflect on community needs, strengths, and strategies to influence and engage community members.
Capacity building
Providing tools and guidance to give local leaders the skills to enact and influence change in their communities.
Trust
Confidence that residents understand their own communities and are best placed to develop projects that will assist with local climate adaptation.
We acknowledge and respect Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters, their unique ability to care for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices. We are committed to enabling self-determination for all Aboriginal people and aim to work closely with the Aboriginal community to drive action and improve outcomes especially in the context of a changing climate.