Leadership development is becoming increasingly important in the rural sector where continuing pressure on profit margins and increased competition in major overseas markets means that our farmers must rely on their own innovation and initiative to remain viable.

To succeed in this environment, our State must produce strong and capable leaders who have the ability to motivate and energise themselves, their industries, and their communities. These leaders will help take our rural and regional communities into the future. To achieve this they will require the skills of strategic planning, negotiation, lobbying, managing change, and team building.

The South Australian Rural Leadership Program (SARLP) will guide and provide assistance to those leaders already forging ahead in their industry, and to those who have the potential to become the leaders of the future.

SARLP will provide training to assist our future leaders to develop the skills they require to be successful. The program will work closely with other rural groups to maximise leadership opportunities for rural people.

SARLP is run annually and the timing of the program is varied each year.

Short video on the Rural Leadership Program (WMV 2.7MB) (transcript)

Adam Gray took part in the SA Rural Leadership program back in 2005. Adam's now working with the Local Government Association of South Australia, and says he uses a lot of what he learned during the program in his current role.

Listen to this interview with Adam Gray to find out more (WMA 1.8MB) (transcript)

Jenny Phillips was also part of the 2005 program and is now working in a communications role with the SA Murray Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board. Jenny says the course gave her the confidence she needed to take on leadership roles in her community.

Listen to Jenny Phillips' interview (WMA 1.4MB) (transcript)

Objectives and Goals

The Program Objectives are to:

• provide an exposure to a range of specialised professional leadership development opportunities and experiences for people working in rural industries in South Australia
• energise new and existing rural leaders to expand their ability to stimulate rural industry and community development
• establish a network of rural leaders who can share creative ideas and promote opportunities for partnerships between individuals, communities, and industries.

The Program Goals are to:

• encourage and provide potential leaders with the skills, motivation and confidence to seek an active role in addressing current and future issues affecting their local communities and agricultural industries
• produce leaders who are capable of developing and articulating a shared community vision, have the ability to engender enthusiasm and commitment in their regional community, and possess a greater understanding of the concepts of community involvement in planning for their local communities future
• empower individuals to develop an innovative culture within their local communities, businesses, and industries throughout regional South Australia.

Participants

The program targets enthusiastic individuals who have the potential to stimulate creativity, wealth, and business at community level, and who are either already involved in activities relating to the development of their local community, or rural industry, or are looking for the opportunity to become involved at this level.

The program will select participants who can demonstrate their potential to be involved in a leadership role in rural industries and communities. It will be aimed at nurturing those community, industry and support agency members who are interested in making a greater contribution to their community and recognise the need for greater skill development.

Program Structure

The program will be held as a four day residential workshop with a further two day residential follow up session. Indoor workshop sessions, outdoor activities sessions and evening dinner and panel session will be held over the six days.

Program Outline

The program will cover a range of topics and skills including;

• personal and community leadership
• self esteem
• vision values
• communication skills
• team work
• mentoring
• problem solving
• decision making
• conflict resolution
• negotiation
• facilitation
• presentation

For further details on the course view the course brochure.

SARLP 2011 Course 11

SARLP will be held:

Session 1, 22 - 25 March 2011 (Tiffins on the Park, Adelaide)

Session 2, 28 - 29 April 2011 (Tiffins on the Park, Adelaide)

Click on the links below for further information on the program and application forms:

Course Brouchure PDF

Application form in PDF

Application form in word format

Applications close 21 February 2011.

Program Fees - 2011

The South Australian Rural Leadership Program is funded by Primary Industries and Resources South Australia.  PIRSA subsidises each of the three outlined categories to help ensure diversity. The funding structure recognises the difficulty community based people often experience in funding employees participation in leadership programs, therefore a three-tiered funding schedule is used.

Click on the link below for the 2011 Program Fees and information on them.

2011 SA Rural Leadershp Program Fees 

Past SA Rural Leadership Programs

• Program 1 (16 - 19 March 1999: 19 - 20 July 1999)
• Program 2 (4 - 7 April 2000: 22 - 23 August 2000)
• Program 3 (5 - 8 June 2001: 13 - 14 August 2001
• Program 4 (25 - 28 September 2001: 10 - 11 January 2002)
• Program 5 (1 - 4 April 2003: 10 - 11 July 2003)
• Program 6 (8 - 11 June 2004: 19 - 20 September 2004)
• Program 7 (16 - 19 August 2005: 17 - 18 October 2005)
• Program 8 (25 - 28 July 2006: 18 - 19 September 2006)
• Program 9 (29 - 31 May/1 June 2007: 2 - 3 August 2007)
• Drought Youth Leadership Program 1 ( 28, 29, 30 April & 1 May 2008: 3 & 4 June 2008)
• Drought Youth Leadership Program 2 ( 26 - 29 August 2008: 9 - 10 October 2008)
• Program 10 (22 - 25 September 2009: 22 - 23 October 2009)

 
FURTHER INFORMATION
Lib Hylton Keele
Manager, Rural Communities
Primary Industries & Resources SA
GPO Box 1671
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Phone: (08) 8226 0245
Fax: (08) 8226 0425
Email: lib.hyltonkeele@sa.gov.au