Leadership Ballarat and Western Region: practical lesson in a sign

From there, it was about group members finding a way for what they do best to try and make a difference.

This came in the form of a sign.

Leadership Ballarat and Western Region leaders forum participants presented group projects on matters that matter most to them in a closing retreat this week. The forum features about 30 emerging leaders from a cross-section of business, government and welfare roles across the region.

The group choosing to apply leadership in homelessness created a simple, effective sign to be displayed in public places, like toilets and barbecue shelters, with a list of community numbers for crisis, welfare and health support.

Group member Clare O'Connor said they had started out wanting to humanise the issue, working off the basis if they saw a homeless person on Ballarat streets they would not know what to say or do. But pre-pandemic planning to filming those on the frontline, including those experiencing homelessness, quickly showed how little they understood the issue.

"We realised we didn't really know what we were talking about because it was new to us." Ms O'Connor said. "Over time, we looked at what was practical. We were fortunate among ourselves to have connections to the sector.

"One of our members saw a sign in Warrnambool like this. We were speaking with (Ballarat) council and they thought it a fantastic idea - it would be new and it would be practical.

"...Listening to other groups, there were common themes in experiences had and some understanding there had to be goals in the project and that people bring different skills to groups."

Projects were sparked from workshops with Ballarat organisational strategists Foresight Lane. Most groups realised for their projects to come to fruition, a budget or grants would be needed.

The aim was for members to get thinking outside their comfort zones.

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Projects were the culmination of the year-long experiential program which was thrown online.

LBWR executive officer Ellen Jackson, who joined the program mid-year, said she has been impressed at the high level of committment members made to the program in a tumultuous year.

"We've had changes in jobs, babies, people moving house on top of changed work and home life. For each of them to continue to show up to us and to each other, I'm so pleased and proud for all of them," Ms Jackson said.

The shift online has allowed LBWR a chance to collaborate with sister programs for learning and development this year.

Ms Jackson looked forward to different ways the program might continue to evolve in the future.

LBWR graduates will formally be presented in a Committee for Ballarat round table dinner when restrictions allow.