Shape Your Energy Future
The Shape Your Energy Future (ShEF) leadership program, a collaboration between the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and the Queensland Conservation Council (QCC), aimed to empower local leaders to guide the transition to renewable energy in their communities.
Funded by Boundless Earth, the program focused on the Western Downs and South Burnett regions in Southern Queensland.
Learn more about the program’s impact or download the comprehensive report.
About the program
Funded by Boundless Earth, the ShEF program was designed for community members committed to navigating the renewable transition while ensuring the wellbeing and sustainability of their communities as a priority.
Through residential workshops, online coaching, and community initiatives, the program brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, enabling open discussions where views were respected and valued. These leaders are now working collaboratively to drive positive change within their communities.
ARLF sees the potential to adapt the ShEF program for other regions experiencing energy transitions. Depending on each region’s context, the focus might vary from conflict resolution and community strengthening to governance and network building.
Key objectives
Develop leadership to boost regional renewable energy project adoption
Enhance awareness of systemic barriers to a positive energy future
Increase awareness of energy impacts and socio-economic considerations
Foster strong networks to support regional energy leadership
Participant statistics
Impact Highlights
Through the shared commitment of its participants and the strategic guidance of its facilitators, the ShEF program continues to make a profound and lasting impact on regional Queensland’s journey towards a sustainable energy transition.
Enhancing Local Capacities
By focusing on real-world applications, the program has successfully expanded local capacities, with many participants stepping into leadership roles or enhancing their existing positions to better advocate for energy futures.
This has led to a tangible improvement in how communities engage with and manage the energy transition, with projects like the Western Downs Futures securing $400,000 in funding to support local energy initiatives.
Community Empowerment
90% of participants have reported an increase in awareness of how to support regional development through energy transition.
Graduates have grown their capability to address complex cross-sector issues, enhancing their influence on transformational change.
Strengthening Community Resilience
The program’s emphasis on adaptation and creative problem-solving has equipped participants with the skills necessary to foster social and economic resilience, preparing them to navigate and lead through the uncertainties of the energy sector’s evolution.
Feedback from participants indicated a strengthened ability to adapt and innovate, crucial skills in their ongoing leadership roles.
Fostering Collaborative Networks
Participants formed networks that have been utilised for collaboration on multiple community projects, significantly enhancing the speed and efficacy of local energy transitions.
This network-building aspect of the program has not only supported individual projects but has also strengthened the collective capacity to advocate for sustainable energy solutions, making it easier and faster to implement changes.
Building Lasting Relationships and Social Cohesion
ShEF has been instrumental in nurturing strong, respectful relationships among its participants, contributing significantly to the program’s impact.
The program reported a 25% increase in self-assessed awareness ratings, illustrating the deepening of interpersonal connections and understanding among participants.
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How do you see your community benefitting as a direct result of your participation in this program?
Through my work and this new network of partners, I'm empowered to support more community-led outcomes in the energy transition, which should result in community benefits.
What do you believe are the most significant areas you have developed or grown in your leadership approach through participation in the program?
I have really grown in my belief in my personal gifts and strengths and how to use these to help nurture and look after my communities.
How in growing their leadership approach, has the ShEF program impacted your life?
Wonderful! The most incredible strong relationships that I have developed mean so much in the strength I feel to keep moving forward in the difficult transition to come.
How in growing their leadership approach, has the ShEF program impacted your life?
Appreciation of other points for other stakeholders.
What have you started doing to see this development in your behavior?
Being more confident in speaking on behalf of farmers.
Impact Stories
How opposing views became a united one on how to shape their region’s energy future
Local leaders come together to help shape Southern Queensland’s energy future
Delivered in partnership
The Shape Your Energy Future leadership program, a collaboration between the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and the Queensland Conservation Council (QCC), aimed to empower local leaders to guide the transition to renewable energy in their communities. As Queensland’s peak body for environmental groups, QCC works to unite people in a powerful movement for nature and climate justice.
Funded by Boundless Earth (Boundless), the program focused on the Western Downs and South Burnett regions in Southern Queensland. The vision of Boundless is an Australia we can all be proud of – a prosperous, renewable energy superpower and a global force towards a decarbonised world. Boundless’ purpose is to accelerate climate solutions at the scale and speed required for Australia to do its fair share to avert the climate crisis. Boundless uses the levers of philanthropy, investment and direct advocacy to make change and get Australia on the path to becoming a renewable energy superpower by 2030.
The Leading Communities Through Energy Transformation Project application submitted by the ARLF in partnership with the QCC to Boundless was successfully funded in July 2023.
Delivered in partnership with
Get the impact report
Want to know more? Get access to our impact report about the Shape Your Energy Future Program.
