Community Leadership Program for Women

Our collective vision is to cultivate and nurture community leadership skills, especially among Indigenous women residing in disadvantaged communities of Far Western NSW, specifically on Wiradjuri Country – the largest aboriginal country in Australia with an urgent need for educational enhancement. Supporting four of the Socio-Economic Targets. Our proposed program scope will provide a cohort of 100 Aboriginal women with leadership and lifestyle skills and the physical resources to create pathways to further vocational or tertiary training and education and employment. The scope will cover 4 of the Closing the Gap Socio-Economic Targets, aimed at increasing educational participation and outcomes and employment. The scope will encompass program delivery to indigenous women in some of the most disadvantaged communities in far western NSW. Aside from the personal benefits of the program to the participants, the local community will benefit from the leadership skills and guidance which the program participants will inject into the communities. The program will equip the women with the resources, skills and confidence required to pursue further educational pathways, bring skills into the community and create employment. Local female community leaders will encourage and guide other young Aboriginal women into similar programs and/or further education. Activities will include face to face training in selected locations throughout the region and community, local employer and industry engagement and community workshops promoting the benefits of further education and employment and the options available. Westbourne Care will work closely with the Regional Enterprise Development Institute (REDI.E), utilising their existing venues to provide wrap around support for the participants, including accommodation and meals. The program will be supported by staff from REDI.E and also staff from Westbourne Care’s sister organisation, Westbourne College. Participants will be equipped with laptops and software, providing access to 20 versatile short courses focusing on a range of essential Leadership and Employment skills. These short courses will also form the basis of skills recognition for the attainment of a Certificate III in Community Services. Participants will be well managed and serviced by a combined team of dedicated, fully qualified trainers and mentors from REDI.E, Westbourne Cares and Westbourne College.