November 23, 2020

LEADERSHIP Wimmera's 2020 graduates have marked the end of their program year. 

Graduates of the Regional Leadership Skills and Business Leaders programs celebrated a year of self-development and leadership learning when they gathered in Horsham on Friday and Saturday night. It came after graduates shared their experience by way of prepared speeches last month, via Zoom. 

Leadership Wimmera program manager Jessica Grimble said 28 people from 19 organisationshad developed skills to contribute effectively and positively in workplaces and community. For many, the weekend’s dinners were their first in-person meeting since the program began in February.

“Our 2020 participants have spent most of their year-long program online – and it would not have been the year they expected, but one that likely brought many opportunities to learn and grow that were totally unexpected back in January,” Ms Grimble said. 

“Participants in a program such as Leadership Wimmera will get as much out of it as they put into it. 

“Completing the program during the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly posed challenges for everyone – from participants to facilitators and those behind the scenes – and we don’t take away from that. But it also offered people a support network and chance to learn new ways to navigate the challenges that came their way.” 

Leadership Wimmera is auspiced by Wimmera Development Association. It began in 2002 and has supported the development of almost 600 emerging leaders in the Wimmera Southern Mallee. 

The Victorian government is the major financial contributor to Leadership Wimmera. Philanthropic and business support also assists in delivering subsidised learning opportunities to Wimmera Southern Mallee residents. 

Expressions of Interest for Leadership Wimmera’s 2021 program are open now. People wanting more information can visit www.wda.org.au/leadership-wimmera or phone Jessica on 0429 811 744.

November 19, 2020

AN OPPORTUNITY to participate in a Wimmera Southern Mallee food innovation program remains open to existing and hopeful producers. 

“Seeds of Growth” – a 12-week program that will equip participants with the skills to transform an idea into a revenue-generating business – is due to start in February.

The Wimmera Development Association and Food Innovation Australia-lead initiative will help businesses commercialise new revenue streams and adopt new technology. 

Wimmera Development Association project manager Vernetta Taylor said people would benefit from the program – regardless of their circumstance. 

“Participants can be at different stages of their food production journey – that being an idea or already being a player in the industry wanting to escalate and expand,” she said. 

“Delivered virtually, the weekly workshops give participants a chance to hear from business people already working in the industry. It also means people can work together and strengthen relationships with other food producers in the Wimmera Southern Mallee. 

“An e-learning platform is available for participants to drive their own learning, and weekly challenges will give participants an opportunity to put their learning into practice.” 

Innovation agency Beanstalk Ag will deliver the program. 

Participation fees are largely subsidised through Food Innovation Australia, Wimmera Development Association and Wimmera Southern Mallee councils. Participants pay a $100 fee; each place is worth about $4000.

Mrs Taylor said businesses identified as ready to take their idea to the next level would be offered one-on-one mentorship for 12 weeks following the initial program. 

“The Wimmera Southern Mallee is very diverse and we have a lot of untapped opportunity. We want to give producers in the region the support to take their ideas and their produce to the next level and showcase what the region has to offer,” shesaid. 

“The program will offer networking and support for those working, or wanting to work, in this area.” 

Mrs Taylor said Expressions of Interest would close on November 30, with participating businesses finalised in December. She said people wanting more information could contact her on 0419 114 274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

November 17, 2020

WIMMERA Development Association has welcomed a state government cash boost for social housing in the region. 

At least $15 million is allocated to Horsham Rural City as part of the government’s four-year, $5.3 billion Big Housing Build initiative announced this week. 

Mark Fletcher, the association’s regional development project manager, was hopeful neighbouring shires would also benefit from the initiative to increase social housing properties and replace old public housing units; build new affordable and low-cost homes tohelp low to moderate income earners live closer to where they work and provide options for private rental; and to upgrade and maintain existing housing. 

“Our region is experiencing significant shortages when it comes to housing access and availability, and this funding is a step in the right direction to ease those stressors,” Mr Fletcher said. 

Wimmera Development Association supports businesses, promotes economic development opportunities to investors and is a key link between industry and governments, lobbying for improved infrastructure and for regional priority issues.

It has conducted the Wimmera Southern Mallee Housing Study throughout this year, to gain a greater understanding of available housing for rent and purchase at entry, mid-range and executive level; documentingemergency housing and properties held by businesses in the region that might be underutilised; and identifying future investment opportunities.

Mr Fletcher said the study showed demand for emergency housing remained so high that agencies would utilise caravan parks and motels to provide assistance to those in need. He said people could wait many months, and up to more than a year, to access ongoing housing solutions – depending on their circumstance. 

“Caravan parks would often be used for emergency housing – but during the COVID response and with shared amenities, this became an issue,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“Other times, people are living in homes that are not suited to their individual circumstance, adding pressure tothe bigger picture demands.” 

Mr Fletcher said private rentals were hotly contested, often receiving numerous applicants for one property. 

“This leads to constraints for employers wanting to attract and retain staff, due to a lack of affordable and fit-for-purpose accommodation in the region,” he said. 

Mr Fletcher said the initiative would create an average of 10,000 jobs statewide across a four-year period. The homes will meet a seven-star energy efficiency rating. 

“WDA is looking forward to potential opportunities for local trades to become involved in this project - whether for new builds or maintenance work as standards are raised,” he said. 

“There is a lot of movement from the Victorian government in relation to housing this week.” 

A new government agency, Homes Victoria, has been established to work across government, industry and the social housing sector to deliver this record housing growth and to manage existing public housing.

“Eighteen regional areas are highlighted for this work – and Horsham municipality is one of them,” Mr Fletcher said. 

“Homes Victoria will develop a 10-year strategy to manage the housing stock to meet demands, and will work with local government to learn about those demands. The WDA report will feed directly into that.” 

Results of the association’s housing study will be available soon.  

August 13, 2020

WIMMERADevelopment Association has reignited a campaign to bring citizenship testing to the region. 

The association’s Wimmera Settlement Services is calling on the Wimmera Southern Mallee community to support its advocacy for ongoing funding to develop and deliver citizenship application support and test preparation for its eligible clients. 

It also advocates for a visiting service, once or twice a year, that would enable regional migrants to plan their preparation for the testing, and enable organisations working with migants to support larger groups to prepare for their tests.

Wimmera Settlement Services settlement officer Sara Barron said the long-running campaign arose again in light of the proliferation of COVID-19 remote service delivery. 

“Regional citizenship training and testing remains an ongoing challenge and there are significant barriers to citizenship training and testing for eligible visa holders in our region," Ms Barron said. 

“This includes a lack of local support and training to prepare applications and to prepare for the citizenship test; and excessive distances to testing sites. Nhill’s closest testing sites, for example, are a four-hour drive away. 

“Ad-hoc testing dates and times have often meant extremely early starts – as early as 3am – and multiple journeys for family groups.” 

Wimmera Settlement Services has advocated for local citizenship testing since 2012. 

A mobile regional testing model, brought to Horsham in 2014, saw 34 people sit the test - 20 from Nhill and 14 from Horsham - with 32 successfully passing the test. 

Regional testing delivered through designated Department of Home Affairs’ offices has since replaced the former model.

“This is not working for our region. The closest testing sites are in Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Mildura,” Ms Barron said. 

“There are significant wait times for testing at these sites, and high numbers of potential new citizens in the region unable to access them.” 

Ms Barron said there was strong demand for citizenship testing in the Wimmera Southern Mallee. 

“In 2018 WDA supported the Centre for Participation to secure Fostering Integration funding to run a pilot citizenship training course. This has 17 people enrolled, with four more due to join in February, pre-COVID-19 suspension,” Ms Barron said. 

“The course is also highlighting the challenges of online registration for many of our migrants, and the high need for support. 

“There are people awaiting their citizenship test dates, having lodged their applications several years ago; there are also people still waiting for the outcome of their citizenship test, which they sat over a year ago.” 

Wimmera Settlement Services discussed the matter with Member for Mallee Anne Webster earlier this year.

August 26, 2020

A SEWING group for migrant communities of Horsham is using technology to meet despite COVID-19 restrictions. 

Wimmera Settlement Services’ Harmony Sewing Group and Centre for Participation’s English language program collaborated to bring sewing classes online this month, in response to the latest round of stage three restrictions.

Coronavirus restrictions forced the group to cease meeting in March. 

Phuong Duong Ha led the first session, sharing her mask-making expertise and leading her teacher Cecile Vence and settlement officer Sara Barron through the simple first steps of sewing aface mask.

“It was hard to teach online. Everyone had different skills. Showing how to wind the bobbin was difficult. But it was also fun,” Phuong said.

The Harmony Sewing Group, which formed last year, links migrant communities to volunteers with expertise in craft, patchwork, quilters and other creative avenues. Social connection and community cohesion is at the heart of the project.

Wimmera Development Association’s Settlement Services along with Horsham-based The Maker’s Gallery and Studio and Wimmera Regional Library joined forces to form the group. 

Ms Barron said participants are making masks for friends and family, though some might also use it as a project for a microbusiness course through the Centre for Participation. 

“It’s so important to keep everyone connected as best we can,” Ms Barron said. 

“We will continue to run the sewing group online through the Centre for Participation conversation classes for term three, and may decide to run it as a separate class.

“It was amazing to see how far Phuong had come with her sewing skills. We are all very mixed abilities and as a student who is not very good at sewing, it’s not easy to follow instructions online. However,some of the women actually managed to make a mask.” 

WDA Settlement Services and the state government fund Harmony Sewing Group.Paw Po sewing group at Nhill donated sewing machines to the Horsham group. 

Ms Barron said people wanting more information about the Harmony Sewing Group, or wanting information about activities to support migrants in the Wimmera SouthernMallee, could phone her on 5381 6504.