The forum, run by Leadership Ballarat and Western Region, invited more than 50 students to learn how to build their capacity as leaders and deliver these skills back into their schools.

Event organiser Steph Wallace said the forum enabled community leaders to give back to younger people in the region.

“The people that are delivering the program today are alumni of our leadership program. Every year we run a program for community leaders and then this is part of their way of giving back to young leaders in the region by delivering content and helping them learn,” Ms Wallace said. 

The forum is now in its second year and gives students the opportunity to work with their own leadership team and other schools in the region.

Ballarat Grammar Year 12 captains Eva Leslie-Goldstraw and Eleanor Borgelt, both aged 17, said they gained a lot from the forum. 

“I’ve learnt that everybody has different strengths as a leader and you don’t always have to change who you are, but work to your strengths and work on improving your weaknesses,” Eva said.

“It’s kind of eye-opening. It’s really making us realise what we need to do to be better leaders. It’s not as much about skills but showing us what we need to realise within ourselves,” Eleanor said.