Over the past month, people from across Orbost and District have come together to participate in a three-part lunchtime webinar series focused on community leadership, governance and resilience.
The Building Orbost and District Together series explored what’s working in other rural towns around Australia and how those ideas might help guide Orbost’s own journey.
Each session brought in regional speakers from communities facing their own challenges and changes, from natural disasters to economic transition – who’ve taken proactive steps to build strong, community-led structures.
The series has been part of preparing the ground for a local community workshop to be held in Orbost on August 21, where residents will work together to better understand what kind of leadership and governance the region needs for the future.
In the first webinar, speakers from Lismore, Kempsey, and Grafton shared how they’ve built resilience in the face of significant disruption, showing how leadership that starts with community can be the most enduring.
In the second, guests from Mirboo North, Cobargo and Buchan discussed the value of local assets and the importance of community ownership in shaping a strong local economy.
The final session featured speakers from Uki, Buderim, and Orbost itself, focusing on how place-based governance works best when it includes diverse voices, shared responsibility and long-term collaboration.
Liz Mitchell, Chair of the Future of Orbost and District Governance Group, reflected during the session: “Real leadership is about listening – when we take time to hear what our neighbours really need, our decisions suddenly make sense for everyone.”
The webinar series is part of the Resilient Regions program, delivered by Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) in partnership with the Future of Orbost and District Project, and is proudly supported by the Victorian Government.
The upcoming in-person workshop will bring these lessons together, using them as a knowledge foundation to start exploring local governance and leadership challenges and opportunities in the Orbost context.
There’s still time to register and get involved.
Participants are encouraged to catch up on the recorded webinars and come ready to share, listen, and learn. This is a chance for the community to take a step forward together – towards a bright, locally-led future.
