Connecting with regional community leaders

11 September 2025

Participants in the Fairley Leadership Program have experienced parliament during a sitting week as part of their ongoing leadership learning.

They are one of three regional community leadership groups that have participated in a program at Parliament House over the past few months, gaining a better understanding of how parliament works in practice.

The Fairley Leadership Program is coordinated by Goulburn Murray Community Leadership, which focuses on developing leadership capacity at the individual, community and organisational level.

That includes enhancing knowledge of parliamentary processes and strengthening connections with parliamentary representatives to advocate for the needs of local communities.

Speaker Maree Edwards spoke to regional community leaders group about her role and responsibilities.

The visit to Parliament House included discussions with Legislative Assembly Speaker Maree Edwards (Bendigo West), Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee Deputy Chair Martin Cameron (Morwell) and several other regional MPs, including Kim O’Keeffe (Shepparton), Peter Walsh (Murray Plains), Annabelle Cleeland (Euroa) and Northern Victoria Members of the Legislative Council Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Gaelle Broad and Wendy Lovell.

MPs spoke about their pathways to politics, ways in which they represent their electorates and regions in the parliament, and the importance of people standing up to take on leadership roles within their local communities.

The group of community leaders was also briefed by senior parliamentary staff on the operations of parliament during a sitting week and the work of parliamentary committees, including opportunities for Victorians living in regional communities to contribute to public inquiries relevant to them.

Program participants asked MPs a range of questions to help enhance their understanding of parliamentary processes.

A chance to watch Question Time and a behind-the-scenes look around the building capped off a full day of activities.

The leadership group caught up with MPs from their area, including Kim O'Keeffe, Member for Shepparton in the Legislative Assembly, and Wendy Lovell, Member for Northern Victoria in the Legislative Council.

Leadership Great South Coast and Alpine Valleys Community Leadership have also participated in the parliament in practice sessions at Parliament House in recent months, organised as part of parliament’s community engagement program.