The Australian Government is investing in building drought resilient leaders through the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud said enquiries for the Drought Resilience Leaders program have now opened - giving farmers and regional communities an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through training and mentoring programs to build local drought resilience.
"Community leaders play a critical role in helping people prepare for, and live through, times of drought. That's why this program is such a critical part of the Future Drought Fund - strengthening leadership capabilities across rural and regional Australia," Minister Littleproud said.
"With drought conditions easing across much of the country, now is the time to build leadership capabilities, learning from others experience to build back better. We need to get prepared before the next drought inevitably comes."
"We are partnering with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) to create a new generation of community leaders.
"Together we'll support people to develop leadership skills so our farmers, their families and the broader community have the tools they need to prepare for future drought.
The leadership program will initially be offered in two pilot locations - Goulburn Valley, Vic and Central West Qld, before widening its reach to 10 additional regions around Australia. These include Northern Wheatbelt, WA; Gascoyne Murchison, WA; Mallee, Vic; South West Qld; Eyre Peninsula - West, SA; Murray Lands, SA; Western NSW; North West Slopes & Plains (including Liverpool Plains), NSW; Katherine region, NT and North East Tasmania.
"The Drought Resilience Leaders program also includes a mentoring component to foster informal knowledge sharing and uptake of innovative practices to build drought resilience.
"The goal is to help build a culture of learning and knowledge-sharing to build the resilience and adaptation of communities to the effects of drought and climate change."
