The 52880WA Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring has been delivered in Carnarvon as a bespoke, locally run training program for community members as part of the Carnarvon Common Ground (CCG) leadership stream. Our first cohort of eight participants are now finalising their assessments for the last block of content, with qualifications expected to be issued in the coming month. The course has been deliberately tailored to the Carnarvon Common Ground strategy and to the practical, day‑to‑day operations of CCG – both as they are now and as they will look once the organisation is fully established – so that what people learn connects directly to the roles they are stepping into.
Why this project is needed
As the Carnarvon Common Ground model takes shape, community members are increasingly being asked to hold leadership, mentoring and governance roles – in working groups, in project delivery, in youth support, and within the future ACCO structure. Building that capability in a planned, supported way is essential if CCG is to be truly “built by us, for us” and sustained over time.
The JR community group identified leadership and mentoring training as a priority to support the Justice Reinvestment strategy and to strengthen local employment pathways and community resilience. Rather than sending people away to do generic courses, the decision was made to bring a contextualised Cert IV into Carnarvon, tailored to local realities, cultural responsibilities and the specific skills needed to run CCG’s work on the ground.
What this project is about
The project is about planning and delivering a bespoke, intensively supported 6‑month 52880WA Certificate IV in Leadership and Mentoring program in Carnarvon, with a strong focus on Aboriginal leadership, mentoring and practical workplace skills linked to CCG’s JR strategy.
Key features include:
- A nationally recognised qualification in leadership and mentoring, suited to Indigenous leaders, workplace mentors, team leaders and supervisors.
- A co‑designed program structure, with community representatives involved in shaping the timing, format and focus of training blocks and support workshops so they fit local life.
- Training and assessment that are contextualised to Carnarvon – using local examples, language, job roles and CCG activities as the basis for learning and projects.
- Individualised training plans and tailored support, recognising that a one‑size‑fits‑all approach won’t work for people juggling family, cultural and work responsibilities.
Ultimately, the program aims to build a stronger base of local leaders and mentors who can support CCG’s governance, youth work, project coordination and wider community roles over the long term.
How the program was tailored to CCG
A major reason for choosing this course and provider was their willingness to co‑design and contextualise the training around Carnarvon’s JR work and CCG’s emerging day‑to‑day operations.
The contextualisation approach includes:
- Starting with a clear understanding of the Carnarvon Common Ground project and how the course is expected to support CCG’s work.
- Using co‑design with community representatives to finalise the block structure and support workshops – for example, shifting to 2 x 2‑day sessions per block where that better suits local availability.
- Drawing on the knowledge and experience of local stakeholders to shape training and assessment focus areas, and to identify where community members can contribute to delivery.
- Seeking input from local employers and agencies about the specific skills that will strengthen employment opportunities and community resilience, then focusing training on those areas.
- Allowing participants to base assessments and projects on real activities from their roles in CCG, other workplaces and community settings, so every task feels relevant and useful.
- Providing flexible support – from one‑to‑one help and structured support workshops through to community mentoring – to help participants succeed in ways that make sense locally and culturally.
This means that when participants are learning about mentoring, communication, workplace ethics or critical thinking, they are doing so through the lens of CCG’s work – governance, youth projects, cultural mentoring, and community‑led initiatives in Carnarvon.
How the program runs
The Carnarvon 52880WA Cert IV in Leadership and Mentoring was delivered in three main blocks, each followed by a support and assessment workshop.
Block One – Professional Development and Mentoring
Focuses on mentoring principles, what mentoring looks like in workplace and community settings, and managing your own professional development. Participants explore their professional goals, existing skills and experience, and start planning realistic pathways into new roles aligned with CCG and broader community leadership.
Block Two – Workplace Communication
Builds practical communication and leadership skills: applying communication strategies in the workplace, giving clear instructions, adapting communication to different audiences, listening effectively, and communicating as a workplace leader.
Block Three – Mentoring, Workplace Ethics and Critical Thinking
Deepens mentoring practice, covers ethical decision‑making in the workplace, and develops critical thinking skills for solving challenges as a leader. Participants plan and review mentoring relationships, think through ethical dilemmas that can arise in community and service settings, and learn to apply critical thinking to support better decisions in their roles.
Each block was followed by a two‑day support workshop where participants worked through knowledge questions, completed project work, received feedback and got one‑to‑one help where needed. This structure recognises that many participants are learning while working and caring for family, and need practical support to complete assessments.
What this project is hoping to deliver
Through this tailored Cert IV program, the project is already building a cohort of local leaders and mentors – with eight community members completing their final assessments now and expected to receive their qualifications within the next month.
The program aims to:
- Build a cohort of local leaders and mentors with a nationally recognised qualification and skills directly aligned to CCG’s justice reinvestment work.
- Strengthen governance and project capability for CCG, by equipping community members to take on roles in working groups, board structures, youth support projects and community engagement.
- Improve employment and training pathways, by focusing training on the specific skills local employers and community stakeholders say are critical in Carnarvon.
- Support personal and professional growth, helping participants clarify their goals, develop study plans, and access the support they need to succeed.
- Model co‑designed, culturally responsive training, showing how accredited courses can be reshaped to fit community‑led strategies like JR rather than asking community to fit the course.
Over time, this investment in leadership and mentoring is intended to create a positive ripple effect across Carnarvon – more confident local leaders, stronger mentoring relationships with young people, better communication and problem‑solving in community organisations, and a deeper pool of people ready to guide CCG’s work into the future.
