Local leaders, business owners and community members came together on August 21st for the Building Orbost and District Together – Place-based Leadership and Governance Workshop, the culmination of a three-part webinar series exploring community-led approaches to resilience and prosperity.
Hosted in partnership between the Future of Orbost & District (FoOD) project and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV), the workshop asked a key question: What kind of governance and leadership is required to support community prosperity and place-based development into the future?
The session builds on FoOD’s work supporting the district’s transition following the cessation of native timber harvesting and the community’s ongoing recovery from bushfires. Drawing on lessons from case studies across regional Australia, participants explored principles of collaboration, accountability, inclusivity, and innovation to inform the design of a new local governance model.
Key outcomes from the workshop included recognition of the need for change in community leadership and decision-making, identification of three core challenges—volunteer fatigue, fragmented governance, and the absence of a unified community voice to government—and agreement on draft guiding principles such as shared vision, transparency, inclusivity, and power sharing. All 15 attendees committed to forming a working group, establishing ongoing communication, and reconvening for a follow-up workshop to design a prototype for a new structure.
Liz Mitchell, Chair of FoOD Governance, acknowledged the diversity of groups within the local community and the importance of presenting a strong, unified voice on community needs and expectations. She noted that leadership roles often fall to the same few individuals, as many community members do not always feel confident, empowered, or equipped to step into such positions. “The workshop provided an opportunity for us to a do deep into the specific problems we are trying to solve and there was strong consensus that we must continue to find ways to ensure the whole community feels heard, respected, and actively involved in shaping our shared future.”
Participants also voiced their optimism about the future, with one noting: “(We) Really got to the nut of the issues, generated deeper conversations, created hope as well as inspiration and connection.”
This initiative marks a significant step towards creating a more resilient, connected, and future-focused Orbost and District—one where local voices shape decisions and drive collective action. But this is just the beginning. Planning has already started for the next round of workshops, which will delve deeper into the design of the new governance group.
The Future of Orbost & District project is a response to the impacts of the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests, and the need to transition the local economy. The purpose of the project is to build on to Orbost and District’s existing strengths and leverage opportunities for supporting positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The project is delivered by the Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is overseen by a community-led governance group.
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) is an international development agency with a mission to uplift businesses and communities through sustainable economic growth. The ABV Resilient Regions program is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments and is a collaboration with Deakin University.
Download the full Workshop report:
