Telstra & tourism leadership in Gippsland (Vic)

Gippsland Tourism Leadership Program applications deadline extended

This program – the first of its type in Australia – is designed specifically for the tourism industry and will use the framework from the highly regarded Gippsland Community Leadership Program.

The deadline for application has been extended to 27th October.

There has been strong interest from operators but people are finding it hard to get their applications together in time, comments Chris Buckingham of Destination Gippsland. He says, ‘This program is not only critical to the future of the industry in the region it is a great opportunity for personal development.’

About the program
Up to 25 Tourism Operators from across the Gippsland region will participate in the program in 2007. It is being conducted by I-Gain Quality Learning and will include up to 10 full-day workshop/seminars every two or three weeks (late March – early September), a mid-year reflection and review, and a two-day retreat.

Each program day will be run in different locations throughout the Gippsland and have distinct themes. For example:

• Nature-based tourism;
• Food and Wine;
• Industry Development;
• Information and Communications Technology;
• Marketing and Media and Governance.

Funding
The program has been funded with support from Telstra Country Wide, Gippsland Tourism, the industry and the State Government’s Provincial Victoria Growth Fund Regional Leaders Initiative Program.

Jane Oakley, General Manager Telstra Country Wide says: ‘Telstra is backing this program because we recognise the need to help support the development of people with vision, passion and drive to provide ongoing leadership for the industry in the region.’

Baw Baw Shire is auspicing the program. For more info you can contact Janiene Ayre:
Email – janiene.ayre@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au.

Another Telstra Country Wide Initiative
Telstra Country Wide®, Monash University’s Gippsland School of Information Technology and the Local Learning & Employment Network (LLEN) this year joined together to create a 10-week ‘GippsWebs for Business’ program, available to all secondary schools in Gippsland. It involved teams of local students from years 9 to 12.

During the program students liaised with businesses registered in the program, to find out about their online needs, then design and create web pages for the businesses.

The program allowed students to spend time with small business owners, gathering information and learning about the daily operations of the business, they then developed a website aimed to help grow the business.

Each team was allocated a uni IT student to act as a mentor and provide advice on the technical aspects of web design.

PWF would love to hear some feedback on these initiatives!