Leadership Great South Coast (LGSC) applicants have less than a week to register for its 2022 "life-changing" program, which sees community-minded people create change in the region.
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Program manager Catherine Darkin completed LGSC in 2020 and said it had led to her completely changing careers after 19 years working for a government department.
"We hear feedback from people that it changes their life," Ms Darkin said. "It's been absolutely fabulous. You see the progression and the journey that these people go on in really developing themselves and learning about their community and how to give back to their community."
She said she had also "stepped up" her volunteerism as a result of the 10-month, hands-on leadership program.
Ms Darkin said up to 18 people from across the region "who are passionate about their communities and passionate about seeing them thrive" would be selected.
She said it was different to other leadership programs and its participants, often leaders in their own fields, got out and about meeting local community leaders learning about regional issues, rather than completing essays or fulfilling 'traditional' study requirements.
"We take people out of the classroom and around the Great South Coast," she said. "We take people to farms, we take them to schools and to industry. We get really out and about and do a lot of hands-on work."
People over the age of 21 from all industries and backgrounds are encouraged to apply with $30,000 worth of scholarships available. "We're looking at people who are current and emerging leaders in the community but we're also looking for people who are really passionate about their community and looking to give back to their community," Ms Darkin said.
Last year's projects included the Heywood water tower Gunditjmara War Memorial mural, establishing a Greater Warrnambool Good Karma Network Facebook page and another increased the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in four Moyne Shire towns.
One project this year aims to make south-west patrolled beaches more accessible and for them to be registered on the national accessible beaches website.
For information about how to apply for the 2022 Leadership Great South Coast program go to lgsc.org.au
