STEP UP: Empowering Community Leaders and Groups is a community capacity building program designed to support community leaders, volunteers and local groups across the City of Casey.
The program offers a series of free workshops delivered by expert trainers and experienced Council officers. Each session is designed to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge to strengthen their leadership and create meaningful impact.
The program gives participants an opportunity to:
- Gain practical skills and knowledge to lead effectively.
- Connect with community leaders to share ideas and experiences.
- Build a strong network for collaboration and greater impact.
Workshops for 2026
Each of the following STEP UP workshops are:
- FREE to attend, but registration is essential.
- held from 6 pm – 9 pm at Bunjil Place Function Centre
| Workshop date | Module |
| Tuesday, 22 September | 1) Foundations of Community Leadership |
| Thursday, 29 October | 2) Building Connections and Leading Inclusively |
| Monday, 23 November | 3) Leading Community Projects |
Registration links
Here's more information about each workshop along with their individual registration links.
- Foundations of Community Leadership
Participants will explore what community leadership means within their local community whilst identifying and enhancing their own leadership strengths and opportunities.
Topics include:
- Understanding community leadership
- Leadership models and styles
- Recognising personal strengths and building confidence
- How to inclusively identify and understand local needs and opportunities
- Influencing positive and sustainable community change
- Setting leadership goals and developing a personal leadership action plan.
Participant outcomes
Participants leave with increased confidence, greater self-awareness and a practical leadership action plan.
- Building Connections and Leading Inclusively
Strong communities are built through respectful relationships and inclusive leadership. Participants will develop practical skills to communicate effectively, build trust, and work collaboratively across diverse communities.
Topics include
- Building relationships and targeted networking
- Effective communication including active listening
- Inclusive leadership
- Building trust
- Working with volunteers and committees
- Encouraging and managing diverse viewpoints respectfully.
Participant outcomes
Participants strengthen their ability to engage diverse communities, build partnerships and foster inclusive participation.
- Leading Community Projects
Participants will learn practical tools for turning community ideas into achievable projects.
Topics include
- Identifying community opportunities including defining community need and target groups
- Introductory project planning and project implementation techniques and approaches (including the below)
- Setting goals and outcomes
- Defining project members roles and responsibilities
- Establishing project timelines and action sequencing
- Introduction to project budgets
- Communicating project ideas
- Project governance
- Aligning idea with potential grant priorities and outcomes
- Developing structured, realistic proposals.
Participant outcomes
Participants complete a practical draft community project plan that provides a clear roadmap for implementing their own community initiatives.
Resources and recordings
Grant Writing Workshop Recording
This workshop covers where to find grants, how to navigate complex jargon, and what makes a successful application. It also provides practical tips on how to write powerful project and organisation descriptions for grant applications.
Presented by Casey’s experienced Grant Officers, this session is packed with insights and expert advice.
Email volunteermatcher@casey.vic.gov.au to request access to the recording.
Questions?
Please contact us via: volunteermatcher@casey.vic.gov.au
If the training you're seeking is not featured or you have any new ideas about what we should offer, please complete this form.