COMING together from different journeys, Megan May and Alice Barnes are united in their passion to help empower women in Ballarat.
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They are now learning skills to determine the how.
Ms May, and osteopath, and Ms Barnes, a teacher, are part of the Joan Kirner young and emerging women leaders program.
They are among the second cohort to take part in the small, select state government forum to develop women who aspire to become influential leaders in their profession, industry or community. This builds on the legacy of Victoria’s first and only female premier.
Both were encouraged by male colleagues to apply for the challenge – Ms May from fellow board members at Ballarat Community Health and Ms Barnes from her former boss at Sovereign Hill.
Ms May was keen to extend her learning and set the right tone as a practitioner and clinic director at Eureka Osteo. She has already been drawing on lessons from early guest speakers, like WaterAid Australia’s chief executive officer Rosie Wheen.
She spoke about how she felt uncomfortable with the power of becoming CEO but how this was also an opportunity for how to use it for good, like influencing others and lifting up other women.
“It's easier to just achieve your own goals and more of a challenge to help others around you,” Ms May said.
Ms May started practising osteopathy seven years ago, initially part-time in Ballarat, and soon moved home full-time as her client base grew. She bought into the business three years ago with a touted move to new Eureka Osteo’s Howitt Street clinic, which opened this year.
“I really want to our clinic to educate and empower all women to take care of their health,” Ms May said. “I love treating patients but I also want to be a better leader for the clinic...I hope to promote a culture of ongoing learning and set an example.”
The year-long program, which launched in October, focuses on leading to encourage the best out of people around you rather compared to being in a management position. Coursework involves in-depth readings, forum days with guest presenters, and learnings for self-awareness.
There is also optional components for participants to shadow other women, seek a mentor or source leadership events for their own community.
Ms Barnes has had exposure to leadership programs via the Greens, including standing for the November election, but has been long searching for a way to extend such skills further.
A teacher by trade, Ms Barnes works in Sovereign Hill’s education program in developing programs and blogging to help bring the goldfields to life for visiting school children.
“I’ve thought about a program like this but thought I’m not a leader in a team – you don’t have to be,” Ms Barnes said.
This is about long-term sustainable leadership, a life-long project.
“...Women in general are still struggling for leadership positions and to get their voices heard. I can’t see yet where this program will actually lead me but I think it opens up lots of possibilities.”
Ms May and Ms Barnes are among 28 women in this year’s program, drawn from areas in which Joan Kirner was particularly passionate about: education, environment, women’s health, the western suburbs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, cultural diversity.
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