Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing, today welcomed $8 million in funding to secure the future of the Regional Community Leadership Programs in Regional Victoria for the next four years.

The longstanding Gippsland Community Leadership Program will benefit from the announcement.

Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, today announced the new funding package will be delivered in the 2015-16 State Budget under the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
The funding represents an additional investment of $2 million compared to what the program received under the previous Coalition Government.

The new funding will support ten programs covering all of rural and regional Victoria.

This will support the creation of strong, well-resourced community networks in Gippsland by bringing local people together with the right skills and knowledge to address the opportunities and challenges facing Gippsland.

The programs provide leadership development initiatives through structured workshops, guest speaker presentations, field trips and events.

Local voluntary organisations make a huge contribution to Gippsland and by increasing funding for the Gippsland Community Leadership Program, the Labor Government is enabling important regional initiatives like this to continue.

The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund will come into effect on 1 July, 2015.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“This program is important for our community, with more than 450 emerging local leaders graduating from the Gippsland Community Leadership Program, set up in 1996.”

“Over the past 19 years, the Gippsland Community Leadership Program has equipped local leaders to work with our community to achieve positive change.”

“The Gippsland Community Leadership Program has helped build and support our communities in Gippsland – that’s why we’re extending and increasing the funding by a third so this fantastic program can continue.”

Quotes attributable to Mary Aldred CEO Committee for Gippsland and Graduate of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program

“We are delighted that funding for the Gippsland Community Leadership has been assured by the State Government through this state wide approach.”