Council's free Community Changemakers Program has come to a close for another year, with participants, facilitators, councillors and Council staff recently coming together to celebrate the journey of the group across 2025.
The Community Changemakers Program, having now just completed its third offering, helps empower community members to develop the skills, confidence and connections supporting them to create positive change in their communities.
Many graduates from the program go on to create initiatives, programs or events that encourage community connection and inclusivity, and help make the Yarra Ranges an even better place to live.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said it was heartwarming to see the development of the participants through the program.
"Year on year, the feedback we receive from the participants of the program highlights just how much value it provides," Cr Higgins said.
"But it's not just about the value it provides the individual, it's also the value it provides for our communities, who all benefit from the wonderful connections, programs and initiatives that our Changemakers go on to create as they come out of the program.
"We couldn't be prouder of the participants and their commitment to the program, and we can't wait to see the amazing things they go on to do within the community."
"If you're a community member wanting to learn and develop skills in how to create greater connections in the community and to make a difference, keep an eye out for when applications open for the 2027 intake."
Participants took part in eight sessions, which were a mixture of online and in-person, hosted by four different facilitators and covering topics such as learning on Country, deep listening, how to pitch and plan and much more. The program was underpinned by the principles of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) which focuses on magnifying community strengths – assets, skills and passions.
"I've come to realise that the change that I thought I was coming along to the program to experience wasn't about changing the community, it was about changing my mindset".
2025 Changemaker
"I've learned about the importance of not only working with other people but also listening to them and also listening to opposition and being able to find a middle ground to make change happen".
2025 Changemaker
