Latest news

Leaders ready to bloom in their communities
“If you don’t bloom where you’re planted, you can’t complain about living in a society you don’t like. You have to have courage, no excuse.” Wise words from ARLF alumni […]

COVID ‘normalish’ brings us closer together
While COVID has not left us and remains very real for those suffering from its effects, we’re getting used to living with it in our everyday lives. From an experiential […]

Alumni Connect March
Cuppa’s at 3pm off and racing for 2023 Our Cuppa Tea’s at 3 have kicked off again for the year. We started this initiative in late 2021 and have a […]

Leadership program fosters commitment to common ground
Andrew Monk | Emerging industry pioneer | Forward-thinking leader Australian Rural Leadership Program scholarship funder AgriFutures Frontiers are a natural home for Andrew Monk, who has found himself at the […]

Leadership program inspires courage, curiosity and vulnerability
Catherine Marriott | Mentor | Agri innovator | Legacy builder As a confident and highly visible leader in agriculture, one might assume that Catherine Marriott OAM is afraid of nothing […]

Northern Rivers leaders give voice to communities on issues and needs
16 leaders committed to championing the needs of the Northern Rivers region recovering from floods and other challengesIt includes ensuring communities are heard on important issues influencing their wellbeing and […]

The National Mentoring Program is the gift that keeps on giving
In mid-2021, the ARLF approached me to be involved with the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Program as the Mentoring Coach. I have been involved as the Mentoring Coach with the […]

New growth – Diana Gibbs on a life spent leading through complexity
Diana Gibbs | Forestry leader | Change-maker Diana Gibbs’ experiences are a reminder that a leader in rural Australia can look like anyone, and come from anywhere. This alumna of […]

Our Learning Managers’ on what they are looking forward to in 2023
2023 is shaping up to be another big year of leadership program delivery across Australia. We asked our Learning Managers’ what they were most looking forward to as the new […]

The year ahead
Rural, regional and remote Australia is as diverse as it is expansive – as are the leadership challenges. We have seen time and time again that regional communities are no strangers […]

Australia Day Award recipients
We were so thrilled to see ARLF Fellow Robbie Sefton and our Drought Program Mentoring Coach Maree McPherson recently recognised at the Australia Day Awards. Robbie Sefton Robbie was awarded […]

February Alumni Connect
And just like that – here comes 2023! Happy new year to you all and I hope you’ve had some space to step out of the day-to-day grind for a […]

Mentoring icebreaker for authentic conversations
Many mentees and mentors had already reached out and connected with each other. Some hadn’t yet. It’s this first step of establishing a connection with someone who can challenge respectfully, […]

Drought preparedness project scoping set to get underway
FRRR and ARLF are pleased to announce the next 25 organisations that are acting as the lead local community partner in the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for […]

Another 180 spots for mentoring program
Up to 180 places are available on a 12-months mentoring and leadership development program for people 18 years and older in rural, regional and remote Australian communities. The National […]

Carbon farmer nurtures Country and culture in frontier industry
Rowan Foley | Carbon farming pioneer | Change-maker As a pioneer of carbon farming in Australia, there is one conversation Rowan Foley finds himself having again and again: “It isn’t […]

Leadership development opportunity for Wide Bay Burnett Region
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ALRF) and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) invite regional leaders to an upcoming Future Forum in Bundaberg, aimed at strengthening the region’s network of local […]

December Alumni Connect
By Julia Strang Manager, Alumni Engagement With the end of the year upon us, we are well and truly in planning mode for 2023. Our plan for next year, amongst […]

ARLP Course 28 Session 4 Reflection
By Jo Treasure, Cowra, NSW Having returned home and officially entered back into the throws of everyday life, I find myself thinking of the ARLP every day. One of the […]

A message from the new ARLF Chair – Rick Sawers
I am honoured to take on the role of Chair as I enter my final term as an ARLF director. My focus will be to guide and support Matt and […]

Grass-roots leader knows the magic of connection
Tanya Stevenson | Community leader | Social innovator Wanting to help and serve people is “ingrained” in Tanya Stevenson, who grew up watching her mum and dad volunteer in her […]

Benefitting from others’ insights
If home is where the heart is, then Jorden Mills can definitely call the West Australian Wheatbelt home. Jorden was born and raised in Corrigin and has worked in the […]

Applications open for scholarships on Milparanga Leadership program
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders seeking to deepen their leadership skills and influence positive change are encouraged to apply for the Milparanga Established Leadership program, now open. Delivered by […]

Milparanga Established Leadership program inspiring positive change
From advising Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, working for the Australian Red Cross and being a renowned artist/activist, to running influential Indigenous organisations and leading communities – it’s just a […]

Alumni Connect November
Thanks for helping us celebrate! The 26th October finally arrived, and so did our Gala dinner. About 270 people including ARLF alumni, representatives from sponsor organisations, staff, board (as well […]

ARLP scholarship helps leader navigate a crossroads
Alison Mobbs | Agri-innovator | Rural community advocate by Claire Delahunty Alison Mobbs was at a liminal point in her life and career when she decided to apply for Course […]

Outback Initiatives helped deliver a life changing experience for ARLP participants
By Matt Linnegar, ARLF chief executive The ARLF team would like to express our gratitude for the contribution Outback Initiatives has made to the Australian Rural leadership Program for over […]

ARLP Course 29 participant experience Connection and Mobilisation
Written by Carly Baker-Burnham As the 7.35am Flinders Street Station train rattled into the regional village of Stratford I reflected on the mystery and anticipation of the ARLP experiences. Always […]

Regional leaders tackle local challenges together towards solutions
Attracting foot traffic to flood affected CBDs; a ‘brains trust’ of locals with expertise, influence and networks to help with flood recovery and future challenges; and identifying community resources and […]

Regional leaders tackle local challenges together towards solutions
Mental health support, youth engagement, the housing shortage and bridging the country-city divide are challenges local leaders will work on together, towards solutions. 21 current and emerging leaders from across […]

Our commitment to a diversity and inclusion
The ARLF has 6 key values, one of these values is to respect different perspectives. As part of our commitment and action to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and within […]

ALUMNI CONNECT OCTOBER
The monthly column from our Alumni Engagement Manager. With our 30th Anniversary Gala dinner on our doorstep, we are deep in the detail of bringing this event together. It’s starting […]

Mentoring program to connect rural Aussies
Applications will be open from 17 October to 14 November 2022 for a mentoring and leadership development program connecting rural Australians aged 18 to 35 with mentors from across the […]

Building leadership capability to fight fires and lead community resilience and recovery
Despite the current wet Spring, the bushfire season is upon us. It’s inevitable memories of the Black Summer bushfires will be front of mind. “The Orroral Valley fire of […]

How mentoring bridges the gap between industry and academia
What’s an IPO? This unexpected question from a group of biomedicine PhD students started Paul Wood on a journey that would bridge the gap between industry and academia using an […]

The next 30 years
Our monthly column from Chief Executive Matt Linnegar. As we draw closer to celebrating 30 years of our organisation and its impact on October 26, we also reflect on its […]

Alumni connect September
The monthly column from our Alumni Engagement Manager. It’s always fantastic to hear about the great work of our alumni. But I have to say that in the last few […]

Leadership development opportunity for Charters Towers to the Reef community
Reef Ecologic, together with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ALRF) and theRegional Australia Institute (RAI) invite regional leaders to an upcoming Future Forum inTownsville – aimed at strengthening the region’s […]

Leadership development opportunity for Northern Rivers community
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers, together with the Australian RuralLeadership Foundation (ARLF) and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) invite regionalleaders to an upcoming Northern Rivers Future Forum in Ballina […]

Local NFP groups sought as lead partners in 35 regions across remote, rural and regional areas
Following the announcement by Senator The Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) […]

Building Eurobodalla’s leadership capability
Regenerate Eurobodalla – a leadership development program designed in response to the 2019-20 bushfires – is currently open for applications. Its objective is to build leadership capacity within the community […]

Emerging leaders encouraged to apply for Milparanga Leadership program
The Milparanga Emerging Leadership program – an 8-day leadership development program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the early stages of leadership – is currently open for applications. […]

Experiencing Garma Festival
The monthly column from our Chief Executive Matt Linnegar. I recently had the absolute privilege to participate in the 2022 Garma Festival in North East Arnhem Land (thanks to the […]

Leadership development forum heads to NSW/VIC Border
The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ALRF) inviteregional leaders to its next Future Forum to be held in Albury – aimed at strengthening the region’snetwork […]

Alumni connect August
The monthly column from our Alumni Engagement Manager. The ARLF team and I had the pleasure of meeting up with our Cairns-based alumni in late July. In conjunction with our […]

Building Eurobodalla’s leadership capability to prepare for future emergencies and opportunities
Regenerate Eurobodalla – a leadership development program designed in response to the 2019-20 bushfires – is currently open for applications. Its objective is to build leadership capacity within the community […]

Building leadership capability to fight fires that have no boundaries
Regenerate Capital Region – a leadership development program designed in response to the 2019-20 bushfires – is currently open for applications. Its objective is to build a network of leaders […]

Unique program supports regional leaders driving change
A unique new program designed to bolster leadership across regional Australia is set to support communities to meet challenges and drive the positive changes they want to see. The Leading […]

Unique program supports regional leaders driving change
A unique new program designed to bolster leadership across regional Australia is set tosupport communities to meet challenges and drive the positive changes they want to see. The Leading Australian […]

Alumni connect July
The monthly column from our Alumni Engagement Manager. On Monday, we sent out the 2022 Alumni Survey and so many of you have already responded. Thanks to all of you […]