Celebrating Community Leadership in all its Diversity
Celebrating a momentous 2022 are the graduating Gippsland Community Leadership Program participants in Sale last week.
A total of fifty-four Gippslanders were celebrated at the Gippsland Community Leadership Program (GCLP)’s Launch/Graduation evening in Sale, last week.
Half were celebrated for completing the program last year and the other half for embarking on their own leadership journeys for 2023.
The Committee for Gippsland CEO Tony Cantwell said the twenty-seven graduates from far reaching parts of Gippsland, such as Mallacoota to Coronet Bay, represent the rich diversity of Gippslanders, presented on the outcomes of their community projects and respective individual leadership journeys.
“As always this event highlights the incredible growth, achievement and life-long connections the GCLP makes possible,” Tony said.
“We are immensely proud of every 2022 graduate, who each said completing the program was an unforgettable experience - equipping them with skills to grow leadership in their Gippsland communities.”
Erika McInerney was also introduced as the new GCLP Program Manager for 2023. Erika completed the program in 2017 and is well-known across Gippsland for her involvement in high profile community projects and her commitment to support and lead regional and rural areas in digital literacy.
“My focus for 2023 is facilitating a program that will allow each participant to grow as individuals, and to take a broader perspective to learn how those skills can contribute to the growth and development of this region,” Erika said.
She said an important part of GCLP is the participant-led community projects and last year’s projects tackled some critical issues facing Gippsland communities. These included projects to improve mental health, youth engagement, foster care support, indigenous mentoring and place-making, through supporting existing reputable organisations.
“The graduation of the 2022 cohort brings the total number of Gippslanders, who have completed GCLP, close to 700. This is an exciting milestone as one of the longest running regional leadership programs of its kind. We wish the incoming 2023 GCLP cohort all the best for an exciting year ahead,” Erika said
Incoming 2023 Gippsland Community Leadership Program participants with new GCLP Manager Erika McInerney (fourth from front left)