Project - Ready - Go!

Getting a project ‘shovel ready’, whether that is ready to pitch, launch, seek funding or actually start, takes time and careful planning. We will step you through basic project planning templates covering the following:

Understanding and refining the why, what and how of your project through developing a Project Plan
Mapping the timeline of your project in a GANTT chart
Estimating income and expenses in your project Budget
Assessing potential project risks and noting them in a Risk Register
Mapping the people to be involved in or informed about the project in a Community Engagement Plan
Consider what key messages will need to be delivered over the course of the project and noting them in a Communications Plan
Knowing what community grants are available and how to complete a Funding Application.

Each participant will have an opportunity to pitch their project to a mock funding/approval panel.

Dates: 2026

13 February
20 February
13 March

Times: 9:30am-3pm each session

Group size: 12 min - 20 max people

Catering: morning tea and lunch provided

Venue: The Victoria Hotel, 42 Bank Street, Port Fairy

Facilitator: Catherine Darkin and guest facilitators

Catherine has worked at Leadership Great South Coast for 5 years. Her project management experience includes:

delivery of project management training,
involvement in 18 Leadership Great South Coast community projects,
delivery of the community project South West Kids as a participant in the 2020 Community Leadership Program - which is now running as the community not for profit 'Loved & Shared'.

Catherine will draw on her experience to deliver three days of interactive project management training along with guest facilitators each day.

Pre-work: Consider a community project you would like to deliver and come along ready to discuss. If you do not have a project idea brewing, we can provide you a case study to base your workshop learnings on.

Outcomes: During the workshop you will:

gain an understanding of and have access to the project management templates required to deliver a successful community project.
refine your project idea,
complete project management templates specific to your community project,
practice pitching your project and
build connections and network with others looking to deliver community projects.

This will be a great opportunity to meet people across the region who are engaging in project management for the first time or brushing up on their skills.

We will draw on all those in the room to finesse your planning over the three sessions and get your project ready to go.

NB: Project delivery is not within the scope of this three-day program.