Emerging community leaders celebrated

The 2023 Emerging Community Leaders participants have graduated from the program and are now taking the knowledge they learned back to their communities.

Funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) the Emerging Community Leaders program develops leadership skills of Tasmanians working in community organisations.

“These participants have excelled during their training and are equipped to lead their communities into a prosperous future,” TCF Chairperson Sally Darke said.

“Tasmania’s communities are lucky to have such dedicated and excellent leaders, they are in very safe hands.”

The graduates were celebrated in a ceremony at Parliament house in February, with graduate Rebecca Tuck delivering a speech on behalf of all participants.

“The program has been absolutely amazing, overwhelming and very knowledgeable,” she said.

“There are a lot of aspects within the program that help me in my daily work life.”

Graduates came from areas across Tasmania, including Queenstown, Copping, the Tamar Valley and Fingal.

“It has been incredibly empowering and inspiring. It was a very unique journey,” West Coast Councilor and Centre Leader of the Queenstown Child and Family Learning Centre Vikki Iwaniski said.

“It really helps me understand how I can be more effective in my roles.”

Graduates have also made connections with industry figures and each other throughout the four residential courses in the program.

“It has been an amazing year of very hard work,” Ashleigh Groote from the University of Tasmania branch in Burnie said.

“The four residentials have been really impactful and the graduation has been an amazing experience. Especially reconnecting with other participants.”