Leaders in the outback

Major General Michael Jeffery and Prof Peter Shergold trek the Kimberley with 33 rural leaders

Major General Michael Jeffery and Prof Peter Shergold, two busy, national leaders took time out to trek through the Kimberley with 33 rural leaders who have just begun the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).

The program, now in its 17th year, provides leadership training to meet emerging challenges in rural, regional and remote Australia. The hands-on ARLP takes up to 59 days over 16 months and includes challenge-based education, workshops, discussions and an overseas field study.

Those undertaking the leadership program work in food and fibre production, the mining and fishing industries, human services, regional organisations, research and development, and rural infrastructure provision. They include primary producers, scientists, Indigenous Australians, community leaders, private sector personnel, human service providers, and policy makers.

The recently appointed Patron of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Major General Michael Jeffery said, “I see the Foundation as pivotal in the selection and training of the next generation of rural leaders.”

General Jeffery, who very quickly became “Mike” to the participants as they trekked through the challenging environment added: “The Program is very well thought through and managed, and I know from personal observation that the benefit to each participant will be life changing."   

The Program helps rural leaders to develop personally, and to gain leadership skills and to broaden their understanding. This enables them to deal with complex issues, diverse groups and individuals, and to be effective as leaders in different contexts.
In a recent evaluation, 94% of graduates said that the ARLP provided them with the capacity to grow and develop as a leader and 98% said it provided them with useful skills and tools to use in their leadership roles. Four in five graduates feel that the ARLP has enabled them to make a more substantial contribution to their industry or rural Australia than they otherwise would have been able to make

General Jeffery noted “this Program is very important because both challenge and opportunity await rural and remote Australia as we adapt to climate change, particularly its impact on land and water management and sustainability.

Returning dusty and tired, but inspired by the beauty of the country and the quality and diversity of their companions, both agreed that rural Australia’s future leaders are an impressive bunch.

Peter Shergold who is the Chairman of the Foundation shrugged off his exhaustion.  "The walk through the Carr-Boyd ranges pushed me to my absolute limits. I loved it.”

“I also learned a great deal from the experience of doing it with others.  We all had to draw on our sense of humour and resourcefulness and work together collaboratively to complete the trek. These approaches are essential for good leaders” Professor Shergold said.

Applications for Course 17 of the ARLP are now open.