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 and nationally recognised...
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 learning perspective, this...
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 goal to bring...
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 spearhead of many...
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 and no one....
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 resilience, andSupporting existing...
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 Program through Rounds...
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 Course Five 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 year commences. Andrew...
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 to disruption and...
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 a Member of...
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 little bit of...
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, offers new perspectives,...
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 Drought Initiative – Community Impact...
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 Mentoring Program is...
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 about the trade...
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 leaders and equipping...
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 other things, is...
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 overarching learnings I...
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 the team to...
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 community. “It’s definitely...
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 private and public...
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 the Australian Rural...
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 sample of the...
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 as former staff...
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 27 of the...
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 a decade. The...
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 expect the unexpected!...
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 skills are among...
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 the Border, NSW...
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 our program delivery,...
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 to feel very...
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 country. Delivered over...
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 January 2020, following...
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 old knowledge-sharing system...
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 history. We ponder...
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 weeks - every...
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 network of local...
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 aimed at strengthening...
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) are pleased to...
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 to help with...
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. Delivered by the...
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 invitation of Telstra)....
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 of local leaders...
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 retreat in sunny...
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 to help with...
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 that crosses borders...
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 Australian Resilient Communities...
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 Resilient Communities (LARC)...
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 who have taken...
The meaning of NAIDOC Week
A column by 2021 Milparanga Leadership program alumna Annette McCarthy My mother is Warumungu, she was a culturally strong woman who spoke her language. Her Country is within the plains of the Barkley...
How a mentor helped Djugun woman Jaala Ozies find her own way of changing outcomes for Kimberley youth
When Australian Rural Leadership Program alumna and former ARLF board member, Anna Carr, sat beside Djugun woman Jaala Ozies on the night of her Milparanga Leadership program graduation, Anna knew it wouldn’t be...
Apply now for iconic Australian RuraL Leadership Program
Applications are currently open for the Australian Rural Leadership Program announced Matt Linnegar, Chief Executive of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF). “Applications are encouraged from individuals committed to and ready to respond...
Participant initiatives help communities face future droughts
Twelve groups and five individuals from five drought-prone regions share $152,000 in grant funding to prepare their communities for future droughts. The in-total 38 grant recipients are part of a cohort of 132...
Measuring your impact
Firstly, I would like to encourage you to keep your eyes peeled for our alumni survey to be sent out early July. With over 2,000 alumni in the network and just in...
Enriching leadership with voluntarism
Last month I was reading a few articles about National Volunteer Week and the role volunteers play in society. Voluntarism is a significant but undervalued aspect of building social capital in our...
Building Community leadership capacity in Snowy Valleys
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation is bringing a free regional leadershipdevelopment program to the people of Snowy Valleys. The eight-day program, entitled Regenerate Snowy Valleys, runs across four days inSeptember and then again...
First Nations leaders announced
Seventeen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders graduated from the 2022 Milparanga Established Leadership Program in late May. After 9-days on program, the cohort was the first to complete Milparanga program designed and...
Leadership collaboration a lever for change
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, along with partner organisations the Regional Australia Institute, Leadership Victoria, Leadership Western Australia, the Leaders Institute of South Australia, and Tasmanian Leaders has been successful in receiving funding...
From the platform to the stage
Written by Andrew Bryant I wasn’t expecting to be standing on the platform of Flinders Street Station, approaching perfect strangers to ask them about their thoughts on leadership. Couldn’t we get to our destination...
Regenerate Nambucca Valley kicks off in Bowraville
For Heidi March, Regenerate Nambucca Valley was an opportunity to connect with the community and hear people’s stories and perspectives after the bushfire events of 2019. She was one of fourteen leaders from across the...
Meet our team – Kas
With more leadership programs on the horizon, our team is growing faster than ever. Join us as we introduce our newest and established team members. This time, Kas Al-Shehari. Apart from supporting our growing...
First Milparanga for emerging leaders
From the vast Central Australian Desert to the tropical islands of the Torres Strait, the first Milparanga Emerging Leadership cohort was as much a leadership as a culturally immersive experience for the 25...
Partner conference brings alumni together
By Alumni Engagement Manager Julia Strang The National Farmers' Federation Conference was held on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra on 5 and 6 April. I was a last-minute call-up, and it was a fantastic...
Notice from company secretary to members
This notice is issued under the Constitution of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF). I call for expressions of interest to fill a casual vacancy on the Board of Directors of the ARLF. ...
First Nations leadership program cohort announced
We are excited to announce the Milparanga Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Emerging and Established Leadership Program cohorts. A total of 45 participants hail from every state and territory, span an age group...
Upcoming fundraiser your chance to give back
As a not-for-profit, we rely on our valued partners and sponsors who, in turn, believe in the value of and our ability to develop changemakers and adaptive leaders committed to the great good. ...
Meet the 29th Australian Rural Leadership Program
28 diverse rural leaders have been selected as the 29th cohort of the prestigious Australian Rural Leadership Program to commence in June 2022. The line-up includes a Social Entrepreneur from Deeragun (QLD), an...
ARLP 27 graduates
Courage, tenacity, and resilience - what started with the onset of a pandemic, ended in a celebration of new normal with a cohort better equipped to lead change than any other. Congratulations to...
Welcome to our new and farewell to our departing team members
February has been a busy month for our growing team with a number of new appointments, internal shuffles and, sadly, also farewells. Welcome Lesley Lesley Vick joined us as the Coordinator Project Support...
Welcome to our new alumni engagement manager
Please join us in welcoming Julia Strang as our new Alumni Engagement Manager. Julia has been working for the Foundation since August 2021, supporting the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Team with stakeholder engagement...
Have your say on our Reconciliation Action Plan
We are glad to announce that we have begun working on the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). As an organisation that supports reconciliation with strong internal support from its leadership...
Leadership development for Nambucca Valley community champions
Under the banner of ‘Regenerate Regional Leadership’ the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation is bringing a regional leadership development program to people in the Nambucca Valley. Across 8 days between May and August 2022,...
Drought resilience leadership development underway in the Northern Wheatbelt
Farmers and people working in agriculture and natural resource management, including local business owners, communication managers, volunteers and a teacher are amongst 38 people from the Northern Wheatbelt who today commenced the Drought...
Drought resilience leadership development underway in the Eyre Peninsula
Farmers and people working in agriculture, including local business owners, bankers, administrative staff and a hair salon owner are amongst 19 people from the Eyre Peninsula who commenced the Drought Resilience Leaders Development...
Drought Resilience Leadership Development underway in New South Wales
Farmers and people working in agriculture, local business owners, financial services providers and health professionals are amongst 35 people from the North West Slopes and Plains region of New South Wales who have...
Central West Queensland graduates launch drought resilience initiatives
Central West Queensland local participants who have completed the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Leaders Development Program have received a total of $64,000 in Community Engagement Grants to support initiatives the...
COVID-19 Policy now in effect
At the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, we pride ourselves on the incredible diversity and reach that our network has across regional, remote and rural communities and beyond. As we approach 2022 and easing...
Our first cohort meets
From ‘this is my second Zoom meeting’ to family members offering advice ‘now you can see everyone’ - hiccups with technology and even technology itself didn’t take away from the ambience of a...
Associates deliver successful hybrid program for SARRAH
Some called it the séance machine, but adapting to Zoom and Teams during the first 2020 lockdown simply felt odd. Phrases that became all too familiar to us include - are you there,...
Building Leadership Resilience for the Future
Rural leaders across Australia will soon have access to leadership training and a mentoring program with a focus on building drought resilience, with the launch today of the Future Drought Fund’s Drought...
ARLF Thanks to Tim and Gina Fairfax
Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax were guests of honour at a recent ARLF luncheon in Brisbane attended by five of the 13 recipients of a Tim Fairfax Family Foundation ARLP scholarship. The...
In search of ‘risk absorber’ foundations
This paper shines a light on the complexity of the philanthropic ecosystem and the diverse roles that foundations can play as intermediaries in supporting charities to achieve their mission or purpose (Williamson AK,...
A global network for rural leadership
JD Dunbar, RULE Leadership Program Director in Pennsylvania USA, has credited the ARLF’s Chief Executive, Matt Linnegar with the idea to engage Rural Leaders from across the globe in the first Rural and...
April 2021 update
Following many months of disruption and uncertainty on a national and global scale, the ARLF has successfully completed sessions for multiple leadership programs involving participants from across the nation coming together in shared...
Indonesian leader carries powerful imprint
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation has benefitted from the generosity of in-country leaders guiding leadership cohorts through its cultural immersion sessions. Through an exchange of culture and knowledge, these leaders become an invaluable...
ARLF to lead consortia to deliver Drought program
The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) in conjunction with consortia partners the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence (RECoE) has welcomed the announcement today from...
Meet our team – Emily Pillow
Growing up on a small farm outside of Wagga, I never understood the hold the country had on me until I left. In my final year of school, the question that often accompanied...
Meet our team – Stacey Pyke
As a daughter of a dairy farmer growing up on the family farm in Maroon, South East Queensland, there were a few certainties in my life – the cows would be milked twice...
Regional collaboration and vision harnessed in WA Leadership Program
The South West region of Western Australia is a complex area, encompassing stunning tourism drawcards like Margaret River, alongside industrial towns feeling their way in a post-resources-boom environment. Each regional community has different...
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands on which we meet, work and live and recognise that this land has always been and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.