Mr Fong said it was time for new, diverse members across the partnership's six local government areas to be brave in taking what matters in this region up to the state. He said community knowledge and passion matters and the representative body was in a position now to be heard rather than told on what was needed.

This has been a huge shift in culture since nine partnerships were formed across the state four years ago and Mr Fong was proud in the result.

"When we started, we were all things to all people. Over time this has been refined and we were given, as community members, unparallelled access to government ministers," Mr Fong said.

"We've changed the way we do things with government. One of the most important things has been reshaping how to look at regional areas.

"It could be difficult, confusing and at times disheartening but partnerships are the heartbeat, pulse and measure in how well government is serving. They have a job, in a strategic way, for levelling the playing field between metro and regional Victoria."

Mr Fong has found the language state ministers use has changed. They were more open to listening for what was needed in a region.

He said the group's low turnover in community membership had reinforced strong foundations and focus to create change. The only major changes were in chief executive officers to all six LGAs in time - each held a spot on the board.

Central Highlands Regional Partnership has tackled a homelessness report to better understand the issue the region was facing and provide evidence to government for what the problem might be.

The Prevention Lab, now in a trial phase in Hepburn, aims to change attitudes on healthy eating and physical exercise in the region with measurable targets.

A $45 million Connecting Regional Communities program, now in pilot stages, is helping to better forecast digital infrastructure needs and planning.

"We don't get everything we want, we disagree, but at least we have the conversation and put it on the table," Mr Fong said.

In stepping back, Mr Fong remained keen to mentor a new committee but being mindful not to be "shackling" them with his views.

Mr Fong encouraged diversity and said more representation from Indigenous Peoples, women, disability sectors and people who identified as LGBTIQ could be better.

This was the best way, he said, to make for a clearer representation of communities across the six LGAs: Ararat, Ballarat, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Pyrenees and Hepburn.

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