A program close to our hearts
Five minute read
Some leadership programs are a few workshops and a certificate. The Gippsland Community Leadership Program (GCLP) is something else. It’s been running for 30 years, it’s one of Australia’s longest-running regional leadership programs, and it’s helped shape hundreds of the people leading our communities, businesses and organisations today.
It’s also personal for us. Our Director, Caitlin Grigsby, is a proud 2018 GCLP graduate (generously sponsored by AGL), and the program remains close to her heart. Applications for GCLP 2027 are open now, so if you’ve been thinking about investing in yourself or one of your emerging leaders, now’s the time to take a look.
What the program is
GCLP was established in 1996 by a group of passionate Gippslanders, including Wayne Casey, Heather Farley and John Hutchinson. It’s run by the Committee for Gippsland and supported by local sponsors.
The program builds individual leadership skills while giving participants a deep understanding of the region itself: its places, people, challenges and opportunities. More than 750 Gippslanders have taken part, and alumni have gone on to lead in all sorts of ways. Some you’d know, like former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay, Senator Bridget McKenzie and Federal Member for Monash Mary Aldred. Many more are local councillors, mayors, business owners and community leaders making a difference closer to home.
For employers, that alumni network is a real asset. Your participant comes out with a group of peers across every industry and local government area in Gippsland, and those relationships last well beyond the program year.
How the program runs
GCLP runs over 10 months, from February to November. The 2027 program has 14 program days, including two overnight residentials, plus a launch and graduation. Days are held in different locations and on different themes across all six Gippsland local government areas, with some out-of-region events such as Melbourne. Participants need to attend at least 80% of the program.
It’s hands-on, reflective and collaborative. Participants work in groups, take on individual challenges and learn by meeting and working with leaders from across the region. Along the way, they:
- build positive leadership skills and public speaking experience
- are encouraged to take risks in a safe and inclusive environment
- work with a strengths-based, collaborative mindset
- build their knowledge of Gippsland’s places, people and opportunities
- join a strong regional leadership network.
A highlight is the community project. Each cohort splits into syndicates that choose and deliver a project across the year. Past projects include rebuilding community infrastructure at Clifton Creek after the 2019-20 bushfires, the Boomerang Bench at Moe Botanic Gardens recognising the contribution of Aboriginal people, and supporting the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) in Gippsland.
Cost and scholarships
For 2027, the program fee is shared between the participant and their employer:
| Contribution | Amount (ex GST) |
| Individual | $600 |
| Employer | $8,500 |
The fee covers program day costs, facilitators, resources, catering, and accommodation and costs for the residentials. It also includes two graduation tickets, one for the participant and one for their workplace sponsor. It’s generally paid in full before the program starts, though a payment plan can be negotiated. Some extra costs like travel and meals may apply, and shared travel is encouraged.
Self-funded applicants and sole traders are welcome, and the prospectus outlines fee options for them. If cost is a barrier, there’s a good range of scholarships, subject to provider approval:
- Gippsland Community Foundation, for East Gippslanders from fire-affected towns or working in roles supporting those communities (includes a travel allowance)
- Country Fire Authority, for current CFA volunteers
- AGL Diversity Scholarship, for Gippslanders who contribute to the diversity of our communities
- Gardiner Foundation, for people working anywhere in the dairy supply chain
- Latrobe Health Services, for a Gippslander living with disability or working in the disability support sector
- Gippsland Critical Minerals, for a Gippslander living in or with strong ties to communities in the Fingerboards Project area around Bairnsdale, Lindenow and Glenaladale.
For employers, $8,500 is a real investment, so it’s worth thinking of it as part of your leadership development and succession planning. Few programs offer this mix of skills, regional knowledge and lifelong connections.
Who should apply and how
GCLP is open to people of all ages who live in one of Gippsland’s six local government areas, show leadership potential and have a genuine interest in their community. The Committee for Gippsland actively builds a diverse cohort each year, across age, gender, cultural background, industry and location, and encourages applications from First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disability and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
To apply:
- Read the prospectus and selection criteria.
- Complete the online application, or the fillable PDF form emailed to GCLP@gipps.com.au. The online form doesn’t save progress unless you’re logged into Google, so draft your answers first.
- Include a photo, your CV and an organisational endorsement completed by your employer.
- If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview.
Employer support is a requirement, so if you’re a manager with a promising team member, the best thing you can do is start that conversation with them now.
Worth every day
We see the difference good leadership makes in workplaces across Gippsland every day, and GCLP is one of the best ways we know to grow it. It builds confident, connected leaders who understand this region and want to make it better.
If you’d like to chat about whether GCLP is the right fit for you or someone in your team, or how it could sit within your leadership and succession plans, get in touch with us at hello@fullcirclehr.com.au. For program questions, contact the Committee for Gippsland on (03) 5623 3219 or GCLP@gipps.com.au.