Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Rural leaders sought

The Premier, Mr Kennett, has announced a major leadership program for rural Victoria.

The Rural Leadership Program will feature two components: the Future Leaders Program and the Rural Ambassadors Program.

Participants in the program will gain leadership skills, including strategic thinking, negotiation skills, team-effectiveness skills and face-to-face communications skills.

The State Government is committing $3 million annually to the program.

The two-day Future Leaders Program will operate in the five regions throughout country Victoria, and participants who demonstrate particularly strong leadership potential will be invited to take part in the more intensive, 20-week (over weekends) Rural Ambassadors Program.

All costs, ranging from accommodation to child care associated with attendance at the programs will be met by the Government and both programs will be independently managed by a specialist firm. Tenders are currently being negotiated for the program.

Advertisements for the first round of the Future Leaders Program are to be placed in regional media with the Program to begin in late July.

Two Future Leaders Programs will be held in each region each year. Two Rural Ambassadors Programs will also be held each year.

(News Release, Office of the Premier of Victoria, April 26, 1999)