Future Leaders

21/04/2026

✨APPLICATIONS EXTENDED! ✨
Calling all year 10 students at Bayview College Portland Secondary College Heywood & District Secondary College
Contact Mel today if you have any questions- applications close 30/04/26!!
Apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/UKagZe3hNx

23/03/2026

🎉 Future Leaders 2026- Applications Now Open! 🎉

Ready to level up your confidence, skills, and leadership superpowers?
If you’re in Year 10 at a school or TAFE in the Glenelg Shire, this is your chance to jump into a program packed with experiences, challenges, and opportunities that help shape your future.

🌟 What’s in it for you?

Hands‑on activities

Leadership development

Behind‑the‑scenes career insights

New friendships

A whole lot of fun

📝 Apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/UKagZe3hNx
📅 Applications close: April 30th, 2026

Got questions or need a hand with your application?
Reach out to Melissa Ford at [email protected]

The Future Leaders Program is proudly funded by local businesses, with Alcoa Australia Portland Aluminium as Founder and Major Sponsor, alongside Glenelg Shire Council and many other incredible community partners who make this program possible.

21/03/2026

Future Leaders alumni - check out this fantastic opportunity with our major sponsor Portland Aluminium!

21/11/2025

We love to see Future Leaders alumni doing great things! Well done Angus on your volunteer award!!

Well done Angus Barclay winning a Wannon Youth Volunteer Award

05/11/2025

Future Leaders 2025 graduates

On Wednesday, October 29th, more than 50 proud family members, friends, and community leaders gathered at the Alexandra Park Pavilion to celebrate the graduation of the 2025 Future Leaders program participants.

This year, 10 students from Bayview College, Heywood and District Secondary College and Portland Secondary College successfully completed the program and during the graduation shared heartfelt reflections on their personal growth, leadership development, and career aspirations.
Their presentations showcased the transformative impact of the program and were delivered to an audience of peers, families, mentors, educators, sponsors, and community representatives.

Portland Aluminium, the founding partner and major sponsor of the program, was represented by Scott Cleary. He spoke about the long-standing success of the initiative, now in its 20th year, noting that several alumni have since joined the Portland Aluminium team—an inspiring testament to the program’s role in cultivating future leaders within the region.

The 2025 Future Leaders graduates were:
• Alyssa Carlsen
• Sy Sy Diep
• Elias Taleb
• Noah Liersch
• Cody Howard
• Elora Cleary
• Maddox Millard
• Daniel Sanderson
• Lucy Sanderson
• Sasha Johnstone

Established in 2005 by Portland Aluminium and coordinated by the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network (GSGLLEN), the Future Leaders program provides Year 10 and 11 students with opportunities to explore local industries, develop career pathways, and build leadership skills. The program fosters confidence, transferable skills, and community engagement—helping shape the region’s future workforce and civic capacity.

Anne Murphy, Executive Officer of GSGLLEN, expressed her gratitude:
“Thank you to our community and industry partners for your continued support of the Future Leaders Program. Your contributions empower students to build essential work skills, clarify their career goals, and form meaningful community connections—experiences that will benefit them wherever life leads.”

The Future Leaders Program is proudly supported by Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network and a network of local partners, including:
Alcoa Australia - Portland Aluminium, Glenelg Shire Council, Pacific Blue, Port of Portland Victoria, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc., Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, are-able, South West TAFE Prince Engineering Pty Ltd and Victoria Police.

07/09/2025

Participants from the 2025 Future Leaders and Young Leaders Programs toured the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area last month.
Winda Mara Ranger Aunty Colleen Hamilton took the students through a guided walk where they learnt about Gunditjmara people and the aquaculture complex.
Aunty Colleen and the ranger team also provided the group with a delicious lunch.
A huge thank you to Aunty Colleen for sharing her knowledge and teaching the students about Gunditjmara culture, the rangers who cooked the group an amazing lunch and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation for supporting our program day.

A big thank you also to our program sponsors Anna Impey from Alcoa Australia Portland Aluminium and Kiara Gunton Saunders from South West TAFE for coming along and helping on the day.

Without the kind support from our sponsors and supporters this amazing program wouldn't run!

The Future Leaders Program is fully funded by local business; with Alcoa Australia - Portland Aluminium as Founder and Major Sponsor alongside the other major sponsor Glenelg Shire Council.
Furthermore, Port of Portland Victoria, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc., are-able, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, South West TAFE, Prince Engineering Pty Ltd and Victoria Police.

The Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network (GSG LLEN)’s role is to broker sustainable strategic partnerships between key stakeholders in order to improve education, training and employment outcomes for young people in the region. The GSGLLEN is financially supported by the Department of Education.

02/09/2025

What a busy term 3 the Future Leaders program has had! Earlier this term the 2025 Future Leaders were able to learn first hand the function, roles and occupations that make up some of the region's larger employers and training organisations as part of the Industry Tour Program Day.

The students learnt about the array of careers and training opportunities in their local community and were given some wonderful career advice and knowledge from local professionals.

Students were able to tour and listen to presentations from Port of Portland Victoria, Glenelg Shire Council, Prince Engineering Pty Ltd and South West TAFE Portland campus.

Thank you to all of the speakers and organises from each of these businesses for providing your valuable time and sharing your amazing experiences and knowledge.

The Future Leaders Program is fully funded by local business; with Portland Aluminium - Alcoa Australia as Founder and Major Sponsor alongside the other major sponsor Glenelg Shire Council.

Furthermore, Port of Portland Victoria, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc., are-able, Committee For Portland, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, South West TAFE, Prince Engineering Pty Ltd, Pacific Blue and Victoria Police also support the program.

The Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network (GSG LLEN)’s role is to broker sustainable strategic partnerships between key stakeholders in order to improve education, training and employment outcomes for young people in the region. The GSGLLEN is financially supported by the Department of Education.

16/06/2025

An amazing scholarship opportunity to rural students - Future Leader alumni check this out!

🎓 ATTENTION RURAL & REGIONAL VCE STUDENTS!
An amazing opportunity is knocking 👇

Youthrive Victoria University Scholarships – Applications NOW OPEN!

If you’re a Year 12 student in rural or regional Victoria planning to head to university in 2026, this is for you!

💰 Up to $10,000 per year for 3 years
🤝 Includes mentoring, leadership training and lifelong connections
🧡 Backed by generous donors and sponsors who believe in the potential of young rural and regional Victorians.

📅 Applications open: June 16
⏳ Applications close: August 15

Don’t miss your chance to be supported in your next chapter!
👉 Apply now or find out more: www.youthrivevictoria.org.au/scholarships

20/05/2025

Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network (GSGLLEN) together with major sponsors Portland Aluminium and Glenelg Shire Council recently hosted the 2025 Future Leaders Launch.

The Future Leaders Program was founded by Portland Aluminium in 2005. Since its inception, more than 280 local students from Heywood and District Secondary College, Portland Re-Engagement Program, Bayview College and Portland Secondary College have participated in the program.

The launch provided students an opportunity to meet with their local business mentors, major sponsors and Future Leaders coordination team consisting of Tiana Richardson (Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network) and Anna Impey (Portland Aluminium).
Successful students of the 2025 program are Elora Cleary, Cody Howard, Jack Rose, Cohen Peatling, Maddox Millard, Lucy Sanderson, Sasha Johnstone, Daniel Sanderson, Noah Liersch, Elias Taleb, Alyssa Carlsen and Sy Sy Diep.

The Future Leaders Program is fully funded by local business; with Portland Aluminium - Alcoa Australia as Founder and Major Sponsor alongside the other major sponsor Glenelg Shire Council.
Furthermore, Port of Portland Victoria, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc. are-able, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, South West TAFE, Keppel Prince Engineering Pty Ltd, Pacific Blue and Victoria Police also provide financial and in-kind support for the program.

The Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network (GSG LLEN)’s role is to broker sustainable strategic partnerships between key stakeholders in order to improve education, training and employment outcomes for young people in the region. The GSGLLEN is financially supported by the Department of Education and Training.

25/02/2025

Have you submitted your application yet?

Applications close March 7! If you need a hand, reach out to program facilitator Tiana Richardson via [email protected].

The Future Leaders 2025 Program is now open for applications!

If you are in Year 10 or Year 11 at a school or TAFE in the Glenelg Shire then you can apply.

This program provides an amazing opportunity for young people in our community to participate in activities that increase confidence, build skills, knowledge and leadership capabilities and introduces students to different career opportunities within the region.
Apply online here: https://forms.office.com/r/jphcbqaTGe

If you need any further information regarding the program or application please contact Future Leaders Coordinator, Tiana Richardson via [email protected]

The Future Leaders Program is fully funded by local businesses; with Alcoa Australia Portland Aluminium as Founder and Major Sponsor alongside other major sponsor Glenelg Shire Council

Furthermore, Port of Portland Victoria, Committee For Portland are-able, Portland District Health, Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, South West TAFE, Keppel Prince Engineering Pty Ltd, Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc., Pacific Blue and Victoria Police also proudly support the program.