Shaping Our Futures Together: Engaging Women in Leadership Development

Muir S¹*

1. Rural Women’s Network NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW, Australia

There is much rhetoric about the need to build women’s capacity so they can better contribute in their workplaces, communities and to decision-making bodies such as boards and committees.

This paper will outline an innovative leadership workshop learning model developed by New South Wales Agriculture’s Rural Women’s Network called ‘Shaping Our Futures Together’ (SOFT).

The SOFT program has been delivered in a range of locations to over 150 women from diverse backgrounds (including Indigenous women and women with limited education and literacy).

Participants involved in a SOFT program are taken on a two day ‘journey’ which includes experiential, interactive and diverse learning activities aimed at building self-esteem and confidence, reflecting on issues and creating visions and goals which enhances social capital and active citizenship while building on existing community resources. The SOFT program also provides opportunities for further networking to improve supportive relationships on both personal and community levels.

The paper will include a background to the program’s genesis and the innovative educational strategies to delivering this type of experiential training in a wide range of settings. Practical examples will also be provided as an insight into the program’s concepts and learning philosophies.