Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program 2011 – Call for Applications

After a highly successful inaugural 2010 Leadership Program, the Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust is proud to announce that the 2011 Science to Policy Leadership Program is now open for applications.

This Program focuses on building leadership and communication skills specifically geared to bringing about positive change in water management in Australia.  The program selects attendees who are highly motivated, knowledgeable and skilled people who can continue the work of Peter Cullen.

Who was Peter Cullen?

Peter Cullen, AO (1943-2008) made an enormous contribution to the management of natural resources in Australia, most of all around water.  He is remembered for his superb capacity to synthesise and communicate complex ideas, simply and clearly, to local communities, policy makers and politicians in a way that supported them to make decisions and take action.

About this Leadership Program

The program is a journey of personal discovery. It challenges participants to stretch themselves beyond their current boundaries and realise their potential to make a real difference in their chosen careers.

The 2011 Science to Policy Leadership Program is comprised of two hands-on sessions, consisting of experiential learning. These focus on developing leadership and communication skills that will enable river and catchment scientists, policy makers and other key stakeholders to effectively participate in, and influence, policy and political agendas.

Current leaders in science, policy and political spheres will share their experiences in leading informed decision-making.

What Participants Take Away From the Program

• You will engage with current leaders in science, policy and political spheres who will share their experiences in leading informed decision making.

• You’ll deepen your understanding of the policy development process and the role of science in this process.

• You will develop your leadership qualities so that you’ll be better equipped to make a difference in water system management.

• You’ll gain an understanding of, and improved skills in, effective communication in policy and political environments.

• Graduates of the program are then known as Fellows of the Peter Cullen Trust. As potential leaders in your field, Fellows may be invited by the Trust to assist future participants in leadership programs or to contribute to future programs, should they wish to do so.

• After graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to network with each other and with the water industry leaders known as the Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust.

• The Trust also offers a Mentoring Program to Peter Cullen Trust Fellows.

Want More Information?

Download the application pack from www.petercullentrust.com.au. Applications must be received by 5pm 31 March 2011.

Australian Framework for Landcare

The Australian Government is supporting the Landcare community to develop an Australian Framework for Landcare to guide Landcare over the next 20 years. The development of the Australian Framework for Landcare is your opportunity to have a say about the way forward for Landcare. The submission period to comment on the draft Australian Framework for Landcare is currently open and will close on 30 July 2010.

Community Landcare

Community Landcare is made up of individuals and groups with similar objectives and a community based approach to sustainable resource management, including:

• Landcare
• Coastcare
• Bushcare
• Indigenous groups
• ‘Friends of’ groups
• Farming systems groups.

Community Landcare will guide and own the framework.

Initial framework meeting

The community development of an Australian Framework for Landcare was initiated at a workshop held in Melbourne on 30 April 2009, with a small cross section of community Landcarers. It was enthusiastically agreed that the first community-driven framework should be developed.

Framework development

The Framework has been drafted by the Australian Framework for Landcare Reference Group which is made up of Landcare community members. The reference group has been working to ensure that views expressed by the Landcare community during the extensive community consultation period are accurately reflected in the Framework document. The consultation period commenced in April 2009 and concluded with discussions at the recent National Landcare Forum. The process for the development of the framework has been fully supported by the Australian Government.

Have your say

Comments on the draft Australian Framework for Landcare are welcome and you can have your say online. The submission period is currently open and will close on 30 July 2010.

More information on the Australian Framework for Landcare, including input from all state and territory conferences, is available from the National Landcare Facilitator.

Water Leader Scholarships Available

Full and partial-tuition scholarships are now available for Australian and international students to study International WaterCentre’s Master of Integrated Water Management (Australia)

• Full tuition scholarships – AU$39,960
• Partial tuition scholarships
• Scholarships open May 1 – August 1

The program equips students with the integration, leadership and managerial skills to become part of an elite group of water leaders with sustainable and holistic solutions to global water and climate change challenges.  The Master of Integrated Water Management is custom-designed and taught by leading practitioners and academics from a range of disciplines from International WaterCentre (IWC) member universities.  For more information click here.

2010 Riverprize: Apply now!

International Riverfoundation’s 2010 Riverprize awards are now open.

Organisations (big and small) working on the restoration of rivers across Australia are encouraged to apply, applications close 14 May 2010.

Applying for Riverprize – the world’s most prestigious river restoration award – brings recognition, reward and support to those who have developed and implemented outstanding, visionary and sustainable programs in river management.

The International Thiess Riverprize is valued at AUD$350,000, and the National Riverprize at AUD$200,000 (the latter funded by an Australian Government grant under its Water for the Future plan).

Winners are announced during the 13th International Riversymposium – the preeminent international conference on freshwater resources management – which will be held in Perth (11-14 October 2010).

Nomination forms and entry guidelines are available at International Riverfoundation’s website.