Share, Care, Activate — Empowering Leaders, Strengthening Communities
- Kimberley Chu
- May 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 10
15th May 2025
Shepparton, VIC — Local leaders and changemakers came together for a powerful Place-Based Program Day designed to unite diverse voices across multicultural communities, education, health, and youth engagement. The gathering aimed to spark collective impact and foster positive, lasting change in the Goulburn Murray region.
Held on the lands of the Yorta Yorta and Bangarang Peoples, the event provided a meaningful space to share knowledge, experiences, and learnings from the inspiring guest speakers, while honoring the deep cultural heritage of the land on which they meet. The Program Day was hosted across two venues in the beautiful regional town of Shepparton — The University of Melbourne Shepparton Campus and The Quality Hotel Parklake — and brought together the 2025 cohorts from the Fairley and Williamson Community Leadership Programs for a day of rich connection and shared learning.
The morning began with powerful reflections and lived experiences from four local multicultural leaders and Fairley Fellows: Sam Atukorala FF'14 (CEO at Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District), Liz Arcus FF'15 (Community Hub Leader at St George’s Road Primary School & Co-founder at Picnic4Peace), Safar Ibrahimi FF'22 (President at GV Afghan Youth Association), and Ane Fotu FF'24 (Team Leader - Diversity at Greater Shepparton City Council). Each speaker shared a unifying commitment to serving the broader community for the greater good and its continued growth. They emphasized the importance of communication, engagement, and active participation in community groups across the region.
As one speaker powerfully stated, “It is our home with diverse communities.” Another reminded us, “Where there is a need, you will find the time to lead, to support the community.”
In the session on Education Partnerships led by Fiona Smolenaars FF'01 (Associate Director, Goulburn Valley Partnerships, University of Melbourne) and Lisa Kerr (Partnerships Manager, Greater Shepparton Secondary College), participants explored cross-sector partnerships and programs designed to support youth engagement within educational settings. Fiona and Lisa shared their passion for creating meaningful pathways for young people across a range of educational opportunities.
Lisa emphasized the importance of accessible options, stating, “There are always pathways — even if they’re not university-based." and Fiona shared the vision of seeing all young people thrive.
In the following session, the focus shifted to rural health and regional statistics, drawing attention to the unique health challenges faced by regional and rural communities. Professor Lisa Bourke (Director, University Department of Rural Health Rural Health, University of Melbourne) shared critical insights into health outcomes in rural areas, emphasizing that increased diagnoses often outpace the availability of services.
Lisa challenged the audience with a powerful reminder: “If we do what we’ve always done, then we will always get what we have.” She highlighted the need for innovative approaches and new perspectives to strengthen and grow healthcare services across the regions.
Adding to the discussion, Jenny Wilson (General Manager, Community & People Development at Gardiner Foundation) offered valuable insights on the interconnection between agriculture and community health. She emphasized that the agricultural sector plays a vital role in nutrition and food security, noting that local food production and value-added products are essential to supporting both health and economic growth in communities. The segment reinforced that health care is not an isolated sector, but one that supports and is supported by many industries across the region.
With some food for thought, the cohort then spent time in the company of Amanda McCulloch (Executive Officer at Greater Shepparton Foundation), Craig Mangan FF'20 (Program General Manager at Geared4Careers) and Leigh Johnson FF'22 (Multicultural Liaison Officer at Victoria Police & Blue Light), sharing their experiences from frontline programs. Each speaker provided valuable insights into youth-focused programs designed to broaden skills, education, and future opportunities for young people across the region. A common theme emerged: the power of strong partnerships and the importance of continuous community improvement.
All three speakers acknowledged that while young people often face significant barriers, community leaders and support networks play a crucial role in paving the way forward — creating spaces where youth can thrive and feel supported.
The afternoon brought both Fairley Leadership and Williamson Community Leadership cohorts together at The Quality Hotel Parklake, Shepparton. This meeting marked the beginning of a valuable opportunity for connection, collaboration, and shared learning between two passionate leadership communities.
Guest speaker Amy Robinson, a 2023 Williamson Community Leadership participant and Executive Officer of the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project encouraged participants to begin by deeply understanding the fundamental challenges faced by communities, highlighting that co-design is essential in creating the "vehicles for change" needed to build a generational shift.
Amy challenged the group with a powerful message: “Be comfortable in something we are not comfortable in.” She urged leaders to reflect on three guiding questions: What are we seeing? Who are we walking alongside? And what are we achieving?
Amy acknowledged that leading in our communities can be a tough road, but emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive, like-minded collective. She reminded the audience to also find balance by bringing joy into our lives and doing something for ourselves — a key element in sustaining leadership for the long term.
The day concluded with a thoughtful and inspiring session from Paul Biggs OAM (First Nations leader, Elder of the Yorta Yorta Nation, Executive Chair of the Kaiela Institute) who shared his insights on the kind of leadership needed to serve future generations.
Paul emphasized that “Leadership is underpinned by values” and highlighted the importance of the “Caring and sharing factor that you bring” as a leader.
Paul also addressed the ongoing need to improve the treatment of First Nations people, noting how the disposition of cultural traits impacts spirituality and belief systems, and calling for greater cultural understanding and respect.
The final session brought the Williamson and Fairley cohorts together in an open forum, reflecting on the themes of the day and reaffirming their shared commitment to leading collaboratively. The event closed with a leadership dialogue and shared dinner between the Fairley and Williamson cohorts — an opportunity to reflect, connect, and strengthen bonds across the broader regional leadership network.
The Greater Shepparton Place-Based Day offered a rich and extensive exposure to community-focused leadership. The Fairley cohort continues to be deeply shaped by the insights of key speakers throughout the program. With eyes wide open and hearts committed, the cohort now looks forward to making a collective impact in their communities, driven by the knowledge, inspiration, and connections gained on this journey.