People with Purpose: Education advocate is always learning

Tell us about the Central Ranges Local Learning and Employment Network in Victoria and what you’re doing there.

We're part of the 31-strong local learning and employment network (LLEN) operating across Victoria. We work in the shires of Macedon Ranges, Mitchell and Murrindindi and service 14 secondary schools and 56 primary schools.

We are dedicated to enhancing education, training, and employment opportunities for young people in our region. We collaborate with local schools, TAFEs, community education providers and businesses to build a skilled and vibrant workforce.

As a not-for-profit organisation, we are steered by a volunteer board of directors and our main funding source is Victoria’s Department of Education for the School to Work contract.

We also deliver Project Ready, which is a 12-month work readiness program for students that incorporates a vocational education and training certificate in “active volunteering”. We have more than 30 schools in this program.

I have worked in the LLEN landscape for 18 years, 16 at Hume Whittlesea LLEN, including eight as the joint executive officer. In April last year I applied for the CEO role at Central Ranges LLEN and was successful. I have been in that new role since June 2023.

How did you end up there, and why? What have been the most significant challenges?

Having been a joint leader for eight years, I felt I had grown enough as a leader that it was time for a stand-alone position. I loved being a joint leader, which only works if you have a great colleague to share the role with. And I was lucky that that was the case. However, when the chance to grow and develop came along I decided to take it.

It did have its challenges when I started, and change does bring about further change sometimes. CRLLEN virtually has a new team on board in 2024, and I have been slowly learning a new demographic area that has a footprint that covers peri-urban, regional, and some larger, more remote areas. Coming from metropolitan Melbourne, this has been very different, but I love the beautiful countryside I am fortunate enough to work in.

What kind of difference do you think the CRLLEN makes?

All 31 LLENs make an incredible difference. We are often described as the "glue" behind the scenes, bringing schools and industry partners together for the benefit of young people. We can also be seen as "positive disruptors", which I love. You should never accept the status quo. And I believe it is good to challenge people to be better. Just because the education system has always done things a certain way doesn't mean that is the right way, so seeing lots of secondary school reform come in around the new VCE and vocational major is a good thing.

Tell us about some of the rewards of doing this work.

There are so many rewards, it's hard to name them all. I work with lots of different people and organisations who are all doing great things in their community. I get to work in the beautiful countryside. Every day it looks different. I get to work strategically and challenge our system norms, advocate for those who are sometimes vulnerable, and celebrate those achievements. We run vocational education awards in our schools and work with a variety of employers. I really value partnerships and work for the greater good and collective impact, so that is probably the part of my job I enjoy the most.