Training and professional development through SPA’s Leadership Programs enables participants to understand pathways into leadership roles within SPA and the wider industry. From quick tips and tools to year-long programs, get ready to uncover the resources best suited to take your leadership to the next level.
SPA wants to champion leaders in the industry and upskill them to take on greater roles in the future. The key areas of focus for SPA’s leadership programs are:
The SPA Leadersheep Program is sponsoring a range of opportunities for training and development!
We encourage you to apply to further your skills in your areas of interest.
The following programs are on offer this year with SPA scholarships.
Date Options:
Livestock Leaders – Expressions of Interest Now Open
Livestock Leaders
Key learnings
What we are looking for
Examine the fundamental roles and responsibilities that contribute to good governance.
Governance Essentials – Expressions of Interest Now Open
The Advancing Negotiation Skills course is the ultimate in negotiation skills development.
It provides participants with the core skills they need to negotiate confidently in a professional, ethical and competent manner.
SPA Program proposed for May.
The following industry programs and opportunities are also available.
Leading Sheep is chasing new members for their Producer Advisory Panel! This is a chance to meet with other forward-thinking industry leaders from right Queensland, gain access to the latest sheep and wool industry findings and get out of your paddock for a moment to see what interesting things are happening.
Find out more and submit your expression of interest.
AIM Business School Regional Australians Scholarship enables regionally based leaders and managers develops business capabilities through the MBA+ program.
Successful applicants will have the tuition fees waived for two units of study from the MBA+ program, worth a total of $5,400.
The scholarship funding applies to the final unit of the applicant’s Graduate Certificate and their first elective unit in the MBA.
Scholarship applications now open.
Want to take technology on-farm to the next level but don’t know how? The Producer Technology Uptake Program provides producers with a practical pathway to evaluate the role and value of new technology in their farming operations. Applications now open – until 22 April 2021.
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) is partnering with State Farming Organisations to hold regional forums in each state. These forums are a great opportunity to keep leadership participants engage in the broader agriculture representative network. As such, we’d like to extend an invitation to anyone from in the leadership program who may be close to each of the forum locations.
The locations and dates for the forums are:
NT: 20 May – Darwin with NT Farmers
NSW: 27 May – Moree with NSW Farmers
QLD: 1 June – Ayr with AgForce
QLD: 3 June – Roma with AgForce
SA: 8 June – Barossa Valley with PPSA
TAS: 11 June – Launceston with TFGA
WA: 24 June – Northam with WA Farmers
VIC: Shepparton still to be confirmed with VFF
NFF Regional Forums – Expressions of Interest Now Open
WPA ‘Raising the Baa’ Leadership in Agriculture Programs
The AICD Company Directors Course is a globally recognised qualification which provides participants with a thorough understanding of corporate governance.
2. WoolProducers Youth Ambassador
Provides a young person (18-35)the opportunity to join the WoolProducers Board as an observer for a 12-month period. This program aims at providing exposure and experience to young people who have an interest in industry policy development and agri-politics in general.
Nominations close on 19 April, 2021. Further information here.
If you have questions about any of the opportunities, please contact: [email protected]
By joining the Leadersheep Network, you can build your skills from wherever you are*.
There are a range of online short courses to ensure those in the network can continue to learn and develop their skills in:
Some courses will be specifically made or recorded for the sheep or agricultural industry, others will be links to generic programs with value and relevance to the industry.
As the program expands, you will be able to evaluate your skills, identify areas for growth and discover new ways to develop your interests further.
*SPA understands the challenges of internet connection in parts of Australia and will endeavor to make information available for download and access offline.
The National Agricultural Leadership Program is a 9 month leadership and capability development program for Australian agriculture. It leverages the NFF’s position as the peak body for Australian agriculture to provide targeted activities and unique experiences in policy development, advocacy, governance, and communications and media.
With a national, whole-of-agriculture perspective, it will provide key skills and experience to create effective advocates for the sector. The program consists of several components. Each component improves participants ability to influence policy and decisions facing Australian agriculture.
The program components include:
Scholarships Valued at over $5000.
2021 Program Details available here.
Expressions of Interest are now closed for places supported by SPA and NFF
This mentoring program is designed for aspiring female leaders, 25 years and over, with a passion for agriculture, organised by the National Farmers Federation.
The Program matches successful applicants with a mentor and the mentorship runs from May 2021 to October 2021. With their mentor, each mentee establishes leadership goals, outlines steps to achieving these goals and puts, in place steps to measure progress towards these goals.
Scholarship applications now closed
Governance in Action training The Governance in Action workshop increases understanding of national industry advocacy, engaging with government, political representation and leadership.
The two-day workshop provides an introduction into the operations of SPA and the broader issues in the industry. It also provides basic governance training through an AICD short course in not-for-profit governance.
Find out more here
GiA Video & Testimonials
Sheep Industry Leadership Program
The Sheep Industry Leadership Program develops greater understanding of industry leadership roles and responsibilities, the value of collaborations, advocacy and effective negotiation.
The Sheep Industry Leadership Program has been delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) in 2017 and 2018.
SILP Video & Testimonials
Sheep Industry Governance Scholarship
The Australian Institute of Company Directors corporate governance training increases the understanding of best practice governance and roles and responsibilities of board directors.
It identifies the board’s contribution toward organisation performance, risk management, strategy development and execution and helps to develop financial literacy skills to assess financial health and examines evaluation and performance.
AICD Video & Testimonials
This is your network and your community, so we would love to hear your ideas and create what you would like and value the most.
We are currently compiling the most interesting and useful topic requests to determine what to deliver next.
It might be…
So please let us know what you’re interested in!
The Leadersheep Network is proudly supported by Sheep Producers Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Australian Government, Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund.
The Leadersheep Network … it’s our industry, our voice, and our future.
© 2021 Sheep Producers Australia