A total of 16 participants from across the Surf Coast Shire have graduated from this year's Casuarina Community Leadership Program.
The annual program, which ran from February to May, helps participants develop their leadership skills and progress change in their community.
With a focus on hands-on learning, the program teaches practical skills such as project management, effective communication and engagement and provides advice on how to apply for grants. It also builds knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture.
Mayor Cr Libby Stapleton congratulated the graduates.
"Many of the graduates used the course to progress their ideas for change, which ranged from nature play activities for kids to address anxiety, and promoting inclusion of transwomen in surfing clubs, to eliminating disposable coffee cups and connecting non-First Nations people to First Nations culture."
"It's great to see such a wonderfully diverse mix of community projects, all of which will help make the Surf Coast Shire a better place."
"This leadership program has been running for a number of years now, and we continue to see some really positive projects coming out of it. It helps give our emerging community leaders the skills and confidence to take that next step and get their ideas off the ground."
Casuarina Community Leadership Program graduates (who live, work or volunteer in the Surf Coast Shire):
Marcelle Renkin
Justine Holmes
Ella-Rose Murrell
Lisa Kroesche Boyce
Chloe Messner
Megan O'Brien
Louise Hall
Jay Loacker
Rosanne Claridge
Georgina Allen
Sophie Fitzgerald
Joshua Carey
Sophie Parker
Lorna Fox
Marina Pastorello
Janelle Da Silva
