Leadership Connections
A community mentoring pilot connecting emerging leaders with experienced leaders across the Great South Coast
Leadership Connections is a pilot program designed to strengthen community leadership through purposeful mentoring relationships.
Leadership Connections is our community mentoring pilot aiming to connect emerging and developing leaders with experienced leaders across the Great South Coast.
From September to December 2026, selected mentees will be matched with experienced local mentors who can offer perspective, encouragement and practical guidance.
This pilot is intentionally small. It is designed to test a supported mentoring model, strengthen community leadership connections and help LGSC understand how mentoring can contribute to regional leadership impact over time.
Why Leadership Connections?
Strong communities are shaped by people who are willing to listen, learn, contribute and lead.
Across the Great South Coast, there are emerging leaders looking for guidance and experienced leaders with wisdom, perspective and networks to share.
Leadership Connections brings these people together through a supported mentoring pilot.
This program is for people who want to grow their leadership contribution in their workplace, community organisation, volunteer role, committee, board, project or local initiative.
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Mentoring is one way experienced leaders can make a lasting contribution to the Great South Coast.
As a mentor, you are not expected to have all the answers. Your role is to listen, ask thoughtful questions, share relevant experience and support another person to grow their leadership confidence and contribution.
Mentors will receive preparation and support before being matched with a mentee. This helps ensure the pilot has a shared standard for quality, confidentiality and purposeful mentoring conversations.
Mentor commitment
Attend mentor preparation training
Be matched with one mentee
Meet monthly from September to December 2026
Participate in brief check-ins
Help LGSC learn what works before the program is expanded
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Leadership Connections is designed for people who are ready to grow their leadership confidence, direction and contribution.
You may be leading in a workplace, volunteering in the community, serving on a committee, contributing to a local project, stepping into a board role or simply looking for guidance as you take your next step.
Through the pilot, you will be matched with an experienced mentor for a four-month mentoring relationship.
As a mentee, you will:
Clarify what you want to strengthen in your leadership
Build confidence through purposeful conversations
Gain perspective from someone with broader experience
Strengthen your connection to the region
Reflect on your goals, challenges and opportunities
Who this program is for:
For mentees
- Leadership Connections may suit you if you are:
- Taking on more responsibility
- Contributing to a community organisation, committee, board or project
- Looking to build confidence and clarity
- Seeking guidance from someone with broader leadership experience
- Wanting to strengthen your local networks
- Interested in making a positive contribution across the region
For mentors
Leadership Connections may suit you if you:
- Have leadership experience to share
- Care about strengthening the region’s leadership pipeline
- Are willing to listen, guide and encourage
- Can commit to monthly mentoring conversations
- Are open to participating in mentor preparation training
- Want to help shape a new LGSC initiative
How the pilot works
1. Apply or express interest
Mentees apply to participate. Mentors express interest in joining the pilot mentor pool.
2. Prepare
Mentors and mentees receive guidance so expectations are clear and mentoring relationships have the best chance of success.
3. Match
LGSC carefully matches mentors and mentees based on goals, experience, availability and fit.
4. Meet and reflect
Mentoring pairs meet monthly from September to December 2026, with light-touch check-ins and evaluation.
What mentoring is — and is not
Mentoring is a supportive relationship focused on reflection, learning, confidence and growth.
It is not counselling, therapy, employment mediation, legal advice, financial advice or formal coaching. LGSC provides the structure, matching process and light-touch support, but each mentoring relationship is built through mutual respect, trust and commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The pilot is open to people across the wider Great South Coast community.
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No. The program is relevant to workplace, community, volunteer, committee, board, project and civic leadership.
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LGSC will manage the matching process based on goals, experience, availability and fit.
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Mentoring pairs are expected to meet monthly from September to December 2026.
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There is a modest pilot participation fee for mentees. There is no cost for mentors.
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LGSC will provide a clear contact point and check-in process if a mentoring relationship needs support or adjustment.
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Yes. Organisations may encourage people to apply, but places are limited and participation is subject to the pilot matching process.
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Yes. Mentors will receive training and ongoing support.
Pilot timeline
Mentor expressions of interest open: July 2026
Mentee applications open: August 2026
Mentor preparation and mentee onboarding: Late August 2026
Matching process: Early September 2026
Mentoring relationships commence: Week beginning 14 September 2026
Pilot concludes: December 2026
Impact summary and next intake planning: January–February 2027
Be part of the first Leadership Connections pilot
Whether you are ready to grow your leadership contribution or willing to support someone else’s development, Leadership Connections is an opportunity to help strengthen the region’s leadership capacity.