Regional Leadership Development Program

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister speak to the chamber about the RDA Leadership Development Program graduation she attended in Mount Gambier last week?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:27): I thank the honourable member for his question. I was delighted to attend the Limestone Coast Emerging Leaders Program graduation for 2024-25. The Regional Leadership Development Program is an initiative that I am very proud to support through the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

The 16 graduates of the Limestone Coast RDA Emerging Leaders Program are an impressive and diverse group, hailing from various backgrounds and from various areas of the Limestone Coast. They come from industries, including agriculture, construction, communications, migrant support services, business ownership, law, financial services, health care, local government and transport services. The graduates were Jessica Bilal, Martin Brown, Kelly Burton, Lucy Chant, Leolla Eason, Tara Graetz, Mohammad Hakimi, Dylan Jenkin, Trish Koch, Maceo McNamara, Victoria Milne, Natalie Morris, Leisha Munro, Kelsie Prowse, Jacinta Robinson and Sarah Secker. I congratulate them all.

The graduates presented their community action projects in which they identified key challenges in the Limestone Coast and explored potential solutions. They clearly demonstrated their public speaking skills as they proposed varied and innovative solutions, including an app developed to connect healthcare professionals who had moved to the area from elsewhere to connect with each other to assist in social connection and wellbeing to ultimately encourage them to stay in the region long term; assistance in financial literacy by running budgeting workshops to help people with their finances; a mobile childcare solution for regional workers during harvest; and connecting Limestone Coast tourism operators.

One of the most important things we can do for our regions to underpin future success, economic development and liveability is to continue to build the capabilities and capacities of our communities. Developing regional leaders of tomorrow is a foundation for this success. I often hear from the alumni of the Regional Leadership Development Program across the state that the experience was genuinely life-changing. It is an expression I hear time and time again. That is the impact this project has on individuals. It does more than develop and enhance participants' abilities to be a leader.

I am told by those who have completed the program that it completely changed their confidence and ability to communicate effectively, helped them to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their skills, traits and values and, importantly, enabled them to build connections and relationships with their peers and the growing leadership alumni in their community. I am so pleased that the 16 graduates in the Limestone Coast have chosen to undertake this transformative program. I know that it not only will be of great personal benefit to the graduates but will also be invaluable to the Limestone Coast to have 16 new leaders entering the community.

Regions are the lifeblood of South Australia and, as minister and a Limestone Coast local, I know the importance of regional development and the Limestone Coast specifically as an economic powerhouse for our state. I know the importance of our wonderful region as a great place to live, to work, to conduct business and to generate and sustain close community and family ties. To maintain and grow these important values, it is vital to harness the leadership potential that is within our community.

I am proud of the partnership between PIRSA and the Regional Development Australia network to deliver the Regional Leadership Development Program. The current program is a $2 million investment in our state's regional leaders—existing, emerging and even those who consider themselves as accidental leaders. The Regional Leadership Development Program is designed to be place-based, where our regions design, develop and deliver, in region, a leadership program to benefit them and their local needs. Delivering training locally in the regions encourages broader participation and enables accessibility for more diverse sectors of the community to become involved.

I am excited to see the outcomes for each of South Australia's regional programs and the increased local capacity that our communities will gain through the leadership development program. During 2024-25, I am advised that, statewide, more than 460 people participated in a course of some kind delivered through the leadership program in 42 different regional locations, and all of that is an exciting prospect for our regions and our communities.

I note the 2024-25 graduating group is, as I said, once again a diverse one drawn from across the region. I trust that the skills, connections, confidence and self-belief that they have gained will take them far, be it in their personal lives, workplaces, sectors or, importantly, in supporting and leading their local communities. I look forward in the coming months and years to hearing more about the steps that the leadership alumni take in their individual leadership journeys.

Congratulations to Regional Development Australia—Limestone Coast, the program steering committee and the other generous sponsors of this program for understanding and embracing the leadership needs of the Limestone Coast region. I would also like to acknowledge that the mayor, Lynette Martin, was in attendance, as was the Hon. Ben Hood from this place.

I would particularly like to add my congratulations to the RDA—Limestone Coast for its vision in taking a lead to negotiate the delivery of the acclaimed Company Directors Course offered through the Australian Institute of Company Directors in Mount Gambier this month. In so doing, they have created an enviable place-based opportunity for regional leaders to extend and hone their governance skills. To the graduates, I look forward to seeing them grow as future leaders and continue to connect with each other and their communities as they continue to step into their leadership roles.