A survey of past Leadership Wimmera alumni has highlighted millions of reasons why these programs are critical for our region.
Not only have 20 per cent of Wimmera people benefitted from alumni-led work, the program’s impacts have helped snare $44.5 million in funding for regional projects and initiatives.
Since 2002, more than 750 Wimmera people have completed leadership program and while participation in the survey was not high, it heard from graduates dating back to the first program.
Leadership Wimmera Program Manager Rowena Doyle said the survey highlighted the many benefits of regional leadership programs.
“We live and work three to four hours from Melbourne and without a local program many participants simply would not get the chance to learn, grow, connect and build their leadership capacity. This survey highlights the ongoing benefits that these lessons bring.”
The survey, coordinated by the Victorian Leadership Network, found meaningful growth across nine leadership capabilities, with strong shifts in self-awareness and systems thinking.
As one alumni said: “I have massively increased understanding about considering how other people operate and how to achieve success in a positive way.”
Mrs Doyle said nine out of 10 graduates were better able to take initiative and drive positive change after doing the program, with many others building both resilience and their trusted networks.
“Through this program I developed strong and genuine connections with a network of like-minded people across the region, which has been both professionally valuable and personally grounding,” one recipient said.
More than 80 per cent of respondents ranked Leadership Wimmera as either the best, or one of their top three leadership development experiences, Mrs Doyle said.
“All these graduates have given back in time and project delivery, since completing the program. Eight out 10 took on a board, committee or advisory role, with representation across all five shires in the region.”
“It created a deeper sense of responsibility as a leader in the region to actively advocate for positive change,” another graduate said.
The survey identified nearly 1140 alumni community-led or co-led projects which equated to 156,000 volunteer hours – or 20,800 work days of contributions. Alumni credited about three quarters of their actions to the impact of the program and nearly 10,000 people have been positively affected by alumni-led work.
“While the alumni represents less than 2 per cent of the regional population their actions have impacted about 20 per cent of the people who live here – that is an impressive reach.” Mrs Doyle said.
The survey also found nearly 800 people have been positively affected through economic and workplace change, nearly 6300 through health, wellbeing and sports activities and just over 500 people in the areas of education and youth.
As one graduate reported ”I now approach my work with greater purpose and clarity about the influence I can have across both professional and community settings.”
Mrs Doyle said the survey had helped understand leadership programs’ impacts on a participant’s life, career and contributions, both professionally and in their community.
“Every year we see people grow and learn as the program unfolds and this survey shows just how much the growth and impact continues well beyond graduation,” Mrs Doyle said.