• Applications are now open for the Charles Sturt and AlburyCity Council Leadership and Resilience Scholarship

Charles Sturt University and AlburyCity Council are offering community members the chance to integrate themselves in learning that will build leadership skills and grow regional development.

Council and the University are partnering to offer the AlburyCity Leadership and Resilience Scholarship which is now accepting applications.

The scholarship will enable participants to complete two micro-credentials at Charles Sturt in 2022, Leading Change from Monday 7 March 2022 and Building Community Resilience from Monday 27 June 2022.

Each subject requires about 40 hours and includes online learning and a two-day in-person workshop.

The workshops will be a chance for participants to connect and engage with their peers and subject coordinator.

The face-to-face component will also allow participants to see how their new skills apply in a real-world setting, including increased problem-solving skills and the ability to lead and implement change management strategies in the workplace.

The scholarship is ideal for people that work in a community-related organisation, are involved in community groups, work in small or medium business, are a volunteer, are an emerging leader or emergency service worker.

As the Albury-Wodonga region recovers from COVID-19 border closures, droughts, bushfires and floods, the scholarships offer Albury Local Government Area (LGA) residents, or those who contribute to the LGA through work or community groups a chance to expand their skillset.

Charles Sturt Director of External Engagement in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga Ms Samantha Beresford said graduates will benefit from innovative and inclusive approaches to teaching leadership and resilience.

“These courses are designed to develop emerging and current leaders to be able to drive positive change in their community and make an impact where they live and work,” she said.

“Charles Sturt University is proud to be partnering with AlburyCity Council to allow participants to expand their skillset and help to grow a robust, resilient and thriving regional community.”

AlburyCity Council Mayor Kevin Mack said in the wake of bushfires, drought, floods and COVID-19, there has never been a better time to support education aimed at improving resilience.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown once again that Australians are resilient in times of trouble, and in regional areas where disasters often strike hardest, we know that our people are adept at picking themselves up and fighting on,” he said.

“But to maintain and support that strength we all share, it’s important to develop leaders who will show us the way forward in hard times, which is why AlburyCity is delighted to partner with Charles Sturt University to deliver this important and unique scholarship.”

Charles Sturt Development Officer Mr Brogan Finnerty said the scholarship program shows the impact a philanthropic investment can make towards the growth and recovery of a region, by supporting residents to attain the skills needed to create positive change.

There are 30 scholarships on offer, each worth $1,800.

Applications for the scholarships are open on the Charles Sturt website and close on Friday 4 February 2022.