ACWA Leadership Program Turns 10

Another 14 graduates emerged triumphantly from ACWA’s intensive Community Leadership Program (CLP) last week to begin their journeys as future leaders.

This year’s graduation was particularly special as it also marked the 10-year anniversary of this highly successful program that has seen more than 150 community and human services professionals undertake the 8-month long leadership journey, developing their skills in adaptive leadership, team leadership and responding to difficult behaviours as well as venturing into the uncharted waters of leadership and neuroscience.

Each graduate has been supported through their journey by one-on-one mentoring with highly experienced coaches.

The anniversary was marked with champagne and cake at a small gathering of alumni, their managers and invited sector leaders, with guest speakers including 2017 graduate Janine Hutton of Campbell Page and NSW Children’s Guardian Janet Schorer who generously shared their stories and leadership insights.

Greens MLC David Shoebridge, who was originally on the guest list but unable to attend due to the final sitting week of Parliament, also sent his congratulations and words of support via a statement that was read to the room.

“It is an extraordinary achievement for any project to achieve a 10-year milestone, but the achievement of the Community Leadership Program is very special indeed,” he said.

“It is one thing to be in a position of authority, it is quite another to show leadership and bring people with you as you make reforms to an organisation’s structures and culture.

“This ability to show leadership, by listening to your peers, your clients and your co-workers is so essential in the community sector.”

With the sector poised to embark on a series of fundamental and necessary reforms, Mr Shoebridge said strong leadership remains critical to navigating such significant change.

“These reforms will be challenging. They will require breaking down traditional silos, being open to new collaborations and, hopefully, a state government that has read, reviewed and finally implemented long-standing reform recommendations such as are found in the recently released Tune report,” he said.

“If these challenges are to be overcome and the reforms successful, it will require the kind of leadership that is given by this program.”

ACWA extends a warm thank you to our CLP sponsor HESTA. To enquire about our 2019 program please contact Lesley Furneaux-Cook: leadership@acwa.asn.au