A group of aspiring Tasmanian leaders have spent the weekend in St Helens completing the final stage of the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) Emerging Community Leaders program.

For the past 12 months 20 Tasmanians have developed the skills and knowledge to positively contribute as a leader in their sector with a focus on increasing skills in governance, finance, leadership, management, communication and project management.

For the duration of the program participants worked on the design, development and implementation of a community project, with the end result being four diverse projects that benefitted the community.

St Helens resident Casey Musicka was among the participants in this year’s program.

“To finish this truly life changing program in my home town really was the icing on the cake,” she said.

Casey was inspired to apply for the program after seeing a colleague graduate from the previous year.

“I watched a colleague at the St Helens Neighbourhood House experience so much personal and professional growth during their time in the program that when the new program was announced I was really eager to put my hand up and see what else I could achieve with the right support and knowledge,” she said.

“The program gave me the opportunity to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, diversify and increase my networks and help me to acknowledge and understand my own strengths.”

For the duration of the program Casey worked with other participants from right across the state to develop a project called ‘Purposeful Planting’, which involved implementing an event during seniors week that worked to re-engage the older Tasmanian community post pandemic.

“Being able to travel all across the state to complete this program was incredible,” Casey said.

“This program not only impacts the participants but all the communities that are going to benefit from people finding their feet and being brave enough to take the next steps on their journey.

“What you take away from the TCF Emerging Community Leaders program is way more than you could ever put a value on in money.”

TCF Board Member Andrew MacGregor was pleased to see the impact the program is having on the wider Tasmanian community.

“This program affords the opportunity to people that have the potential to be leaders to realise their full potential,” he said.

“The Emerging Community Leaders program teaches the participants how to work with people from other backgrounds, with different skills and opinions constructively and effectively.”

Mr MacGregor said by going out into different communities it actually sells the program to that community.

“After holding a residential session on the East Coast last year, we had two people from the Break O’Day region including Casey enrol in this year’s program, bringing the total Break O’Day participants in the program to five,” he said.

“We have seen people from previous programs become leaders in their community.”

In its sixth year, participants, mentors and supporters of the program will be brought together to celebrate at a graduation ceremony in 2023 once they have all had a chance to complete their community projects.

Applications are currently open for the 2023 Emerging Community Leaders program. Go to www.emergingcommunityleaders.org/to find out more.