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Building Rural Leaders |
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Dear Friends of Queensland regions
Queensland's premier leadership development program, Building Rural Leaders, will be held in three Queensland regions in 2006, commencing in February. Please spread the word if you believe our greatest resource for growing industries and communities is our people and their potential. We are looking for nominations from people who wish to develop themselves, their business, industry and community.
Where:
- Wide-Bay Burnett
- North Queensland
- Cape York Peninsular
What: Read below and the attached pamphlet, or go to the website, for information about Building Rural Leaders
Who: People motivated to improve themselves, their industries and their community - individuals, employers, community and business leaders
Contact: Pamela at FreeCall 1800 356 621 or email: pamela.mcallister@dpi.qld.gov.au for more information including how to nominate for a place in the program, and to:
- Find out about the program aims, benefits, and content
- Receive assistance to determine if it can be of benefit to you or your industry
- Hear what past participants have to say about what they have achieved as a result of their experiences at BRL
- Find out about Commonwealth Government subsidies for primary producers and indigenous natural resource managers, including subsidies for childcare.
What is Building Rural Leaders:
Building Rural Leaders strengthens industries and communities through preparing participants to lead themselves and others to deal effectively with today's changing world. In order to meet challenges and recognise opportunities, our businesses and communities need leadership that demonstrates initiative, understanding, broad perspective on issues, responsibility and sound decision making.
Building Rural Leaders provides benefits on several levels:
Participants grow and develop as individuals as they gain knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to promote positive change. They learn first to lead themselves, and then to lead others, including teams. They are immersed in situations that require leadership, conflict management, critical and creative thinking.
Employers and industries who have had personnel complete the Building Rural Leaders program experience increased organisational, leadership, and problem-solving skills from these people. The strategic alliances and networks that are developed provide both support and resources for developing new initiatives. Where several staff have completed the program strong synergies develop to support the whole organisation to be a learning and continually improving enterprise.
Communities gain committed, knowledgeable and action-oriented citizens who promote positive change. Networks that develop support creative partnerships and initiatives between the public and private sectors. BRL graduates are willing to work to make their region a better place to live, work and play.
Building Rural Leaders has been recognised for the significant impact it has had across Queensland and beyond. Since 1992, over 1000 individuals have participated in the program. Their leadership development has not ended with the end of the Foundation Program. The BRL alumni association, Vision 21, and the BRL team, continue to support graduates to keep learning and to undertake innovative initiatives.
Graduates efforts have led to:
Increased profit, environment and lifestyle from improved leadership, management and long term viability of businesses and industry groups
Diversification in industries
Election to local councils and industry boards
Linking to overseas markets
Overseas opportunities as part of study tours and conferences to increase awareness of trade and practices to develop family business
Increased active involvement in local community to create growth and economic opportunities in rural and regional communities
Establishment of new businesses and industries
Young people returning to and staying in rural areas due to increased confidence and improved support networks
Impact is felt in diverse ways and on many levels, from a young single mother having the confidence to move from the packing shed floor to joining the local horticulture industry board, to a lucern farmer responding to the constraints of drought by establishing what has since become a $60 million dollar herb export industry. BRL prepares people to lead others to highly innovative and successful solutions.
A point of difference from other shorter courses is that we take the time to develop the person and their capacity to be a leader. Covey's Inside Out principle is to work on the inside first, so we start with developing the person, giving them confidence, developing their competence and capacity, and then guiding and supporting them to work on the outside, to take on new leadership roles or improve their current leadership roles. What makes us unique is that we give participants time, support and opportunity to practise what they've learnt.
We aim for transformation, not just information, to build competence and confidence. We give participants information, experiences, opportunities to improve, support, tools and processes in an integrated package where each topic builds on and reinforces the learnings of previous topics covered.
Building Rural Leaders is an investment in your industry and community's greatest resource, the leadership potential of its members. If you want to make a difference to your own life and to that of your industry or community, consider nominating yourself or an employee for the Building Rural Leaders Foundation Program. Come to one of our information sessions or phone Pamela on FreeCall 1800 356 621 for more information.
Attached is a pamphlet with more details about the 2006 Building Rural Leaders Foundation Programs. You can find out more from our website at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/community/11968.html
We look forward to discussing with you this opportunity to build the prosperity of the Queensland regions and their industries through investing in its greatest resource, its people.
Best wishes
Pamela McAllister
Rural Development Officer
Building Rural Leaders
Delivery
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries