Pay it Forward Community Leadership Program 2006

1
Pay it Forward Community Leadership Program
2006
Are you a community leader? Are you involved
in promoting the wellbeing of children, young
people and families in your community? Do you
want to further develop your leadership capacity
to deal with the challenges of your role? The
Communities Division of the Department of
Community Services invites you to apply to
participate in this innovative community
leadership program
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Pay it Forward brings
together leaders from a range of programs,
localities and communities to develop their
leadership skills, share knowledge and ideas and
promote collaboration. Good leadership is
about building cross-sector coalitions to
mobilise people to action. This program
engages participants in the practical challenges
of creating change in communities through
experiential learning, site visits and
collaborative group work.

• WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE PROGRAM?
• The program provides an intensive learning
  experience for those who want to have real impact
  on complex issues facing their communities.
• It focuses around the dynamics of working in
  communities, the opportunities and challenges,
  resistance to change and the need to develop
  engaging relationships across multiple sectors.
• It is specifically designed to improve community
  leaders capacity to
• exercise leadership in their local communities
• be change managers/agents
• build more effective partnerships.
• There is no easy ten point plan when working with
  complex communities and many issues have the
  capacity to seize up a communitys ability to
  work collaboratively.
• This program is about generating real
  conversations on community leadership which go
  beyond conventional ideas of heroes and quick-fix
  solutions to identify the harder underlying
  issues.

a joint learning experience, as we discovered
possibilities from real situations 2005
participant
PROGRAM STRUCTURE The program totals six days
consisting of three two-day sessions. It begins
with a two-day overnight retreat starting at 9am
on the first day and ending at 5pm on the second
day. The retreat is followed by two further
program sessions of two days each at locations to
be advised. A typical program day may consist of
a site visit, discussions, workshops and a sharp
focus on practical action. Each of the six
program days includes a set of relevant readings,
reading summaries and notes and focus questions
which form the basis for discussion.
Participants will be encouraged to pursue a
Collaborative Leadership Project as part of the
program. The program will also include a learning
partners component where participants mentor each
other. Each participant will also have the
opportunity to develop a Team Management Index
Profile.
Pay It Forward
many insights and much food for thought 2005
participant
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE PROGRAM? Participant
s can expect to be involved in several visits to
communities and key service providers in other
areas of Sydney to learn first hand how they are
dealing with complex issues. The purpose is to
look at the underlying dynamics and how
particular individuals work in uncertainty to
craft effective leadership interventions. This
is followed by intensive work on participants
own community contexts to generate ideas on how
to intervene more creatively. Specialised group
work will focus on the individual to help build
resiliency in dealing with challenging
issues. Pay it Forward brings an international
best practice approach to leadership. Our aim is
to develop a network of people who have the
understanding, skills and passion to exercise
leadership in the most challenging and complex
community environments.
I do believe that I have paid the leadership
program forward 2005 participant
PROGRAM DATES Opening Retreat Date 14 and 15
August 2006, 9am-5pm Venue Quarantine Station,
North Head, Manly Two-Day Program Session
B Date 17 and 18 November 2006, 9am-5pm Venue
To be confirmed Two-Day Program Session C Date
and Venue To be confirmed. This Session also
includes a Graduation Event.

learning a more integrated way of learning and
being 2005 participant
2
Program Director and Facilitator Paul Porteous
runs collaborative leadership programs and
consultancies across government, corporate and
community sectors in city and rural areas. He has
extensive Australian and international experience
in community leadership and conflict resolution,
including work with the United Nations,
International Court of Justice, Harvard
University and as a consultant in the United
States, Middle East and Africa.

• ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES DIVISION
• The Communities Division was established in July
  2004 to bring together a number of programs and
  strategies to develop and implement the NSW
  Governments strategic agenda for community
  development, strengthening families and engaging
  young people.
• These include the-
• Youth Partnership with Pacific Communities
• Youth Partnership with Arabic Speaking
  Communities
• Area Assistance Scheme
• Families First
• Better Futures
• Violence Against Women
• Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy
• Strengthening Local Communities Strategy
• Community leadership development is a
  well-established strategy for community
  capacity-building.
• In 2004 the Strengthening Local Communities
  Strategy identified that there was a need for a
  community leadership program to engage and
  develop key community leaders associated with the
  Communities Divisions various programs.

• WHO SHOULD APPLY?
• The program is open to anyone in a community
  leadership role in NSW who significantly
  contributes to promoting the well-being of
  children, young people, women, families and
  communities generally.
• Priority will be given to applicants who
• are active in their local community
• see themselves as agents of change
• have a strong commitment to social justice
• are strongly committed to community engagement
  and capacity building
• demonstrate exceptional community leadership
  capacity and the potential to develop this
  further
• are committed to supporting other community
  leaders involved in the Program
• Preference will also be given to applicants from
  the non-government sector who are involved in the
  various initiatives of the Communities Division.

exploring new ways of thinking 2005
participant
COSTS Pay it Forward is funded by the Department
of Community Services. However, successful
applicants will be required to contribute a small
fee of 145 towards the cost of their
participation. Participants will also need to pay
their own costs in travelling to and from Sydney
to attend the program.
Pay It Forward
HOW TO APPLY Complete the attached Application
Form and post, fax or email to Silvana
Horwell Communities Division Department of
Community Services Locked Bag 28 Ashfield NSW
1800 Fax [phone] Email
silvana.horwell_at_community.nsw.gov.au CLOSING
DATE FOR APPLICATIONS Applications close on 14
July 2006.
challenged what I believe to be true and
correct 2005 participant
IMPORTANT It is anticipated there will be a high
level of interest in the program. It is therefore
essential that you only apply for this program if
you can commit to all program sessions. Your
employer should also agree to allow you to attend
the entire program.
FURTHER INFORMATION John Macmillan ph (02) 9716
2849 emailjohn.macmillan_at_community.nsw.gov.au
Program Manager and Facilitator Robbie Macpherson
has been working with the Sydney Leadership
program for the past five years as well as
facilitating leadership programs in the
government, community and youth sectors and as an
executive coach in the corporate sector. He began
his career in the corporate sector moving to the
community sector in 1995 where he managed youth
mentoring programs in Sydney and regional NSW.
3
Pay It Forward Community Leadership
Program Application Form
Please compete the following 3 sections (please
print clearly)
Section 1 Applicant Details and Employers
Agreement
Pay It Forward
4
Pay It Forward Community Leadership
Program Application Form
Section 2 Please complete the following
application questionnaire (attach additional
pages if you need more space)
What are your reasons for applying to do Pay it
Forward Community Leadership Program?
Give an example of where you have initiated
something innovative in your community
Pay It Forward
Briefly describe your current leadership role and
how this relates to the work of the Communities
Division
5
Section 2 (continued)
Briefly describe what the most significant issue
you believe is facing your community today, one
which you feel you would like to work on?
Give an example of where you think leadership has
been effectively exercised in your community.
What do you think made it effective?
Pay It Forward
Section 3 Provide details of a referee and sign
the Acknowledgement of Personal Commitment
Acknowledgement of Personal Commitment I
understand the goals and the time commitment of
the Pay it Forward Community Leadership Program.
I confirm that I am available to attend all
components of the Program. I hereby agree to
abide by all terms and conditions while attending
this Program.
Applicants signature Date
Closing Date For Applications The closing date
for applications is 14 JULY 2006. Please send
the completed application form to Silvana
Horwell, Communities Division, Department of
Community Services, Locked Bag 28, Ashfield NSW
1800. Alternatively, you may Fax to (02) 9716
2870 or email to silvana.horwell_at_community.nsw.go
v.au