• Two-day face-to-face workshops held in Albury on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April for Charles Sturt’s AlburyCity Council Leadership and Resilience Scholarship

The first face-to-face workshops for Charles Sturt University’s AlburyCity Council Leadership and Resilience Scholarship allowed participants to meet in person while learning skills that can be carried over into their study and careers.

The ACC Leadership and Resilience Scholarship was developed to strengthen the resilience of communities by producing passionate and capable leaders that will assist communities to thrive and recover in times of disruption.

The establishment of the scholarship was announced in November 2021 and was available for current and emerging leaders in the Albury local government area.

Participants will complete two micro subjects – Leading Change and Building Community Resilience – from the Charles Sturt Graduate Certificate in Community Leadership and Resilience.

The two-day face-to-face workshops on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 April allows participants to create a support network with their peers while engaging with the subject coordinator to gain a deeper understanding of topics, have questions answered and learn how to apply knowledge in the real world.

Charles Sturt Acting Strategic Advisor Government Relations and Regional Engagement Ms Samantha Beresford said the University is thrilled to welcome an exceptional cohort of 27 scholarship recipients onto campus for these workshops.

“It’s great to be able to offer this workshop face-to-face along with a networking opportunity for scholarship recipients to meet local leaders. Particularly after the past two years, it is so important that people are coming together again,” she said.

“Recipients come from a wide array of diverse backgrounds from bankers to first responders, from health professionals to SES volunteers and everything in between.

“The take-up of the scholarship this year has been very strong and it’s fantastic to see the interest of Albury residents to upskill and apply their new learnings in their work within the community.”

Participant Mr Paul Marshall from East Albury is the current Captain of the Albury Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) squad, a volunteer Deputy Regional Coordinator and Assistant Coordination Officer for Resilience NSW.

In his role as squad captain, Mr Marshall promotes messages of safety in the community and regularly presents to school groups and attends emergency management meetings.

He applied for the scholarship to develop his leadership skills to ensure members of the VRA get the best experience possible.

“I have a very strong involvement in the Albury community,” he said.

“While leading the squad is important, helping myself, squad members and our community build resilience is the long-term goal.

“To be able to give the community the knowledge that they have a well-trained squad that are ready to respond will give a sense of reassurance that, in their time of need, someone will be there to help.”

AlburyCity Deputy Mayor Councillor Steve Bowen said Council is proud to support the scholarship program.

“We are proud to partner with Charles Sturt University to deliver this important and unique program - driving capacity, leadership and growth in the region by supporting participants to broaden their knowledge and increase their skills,” Councillor Bowen said.