This morning I was invited to officially open the Leadership Plus Workshop, a program designed to encourage leadership among people with disabilities and supported by Maroondah City Council.

The workshop examined leadership styles and the concept of over-strengths, whereby someone over-uses their strengths, which may cause difficulties in a team or group environment.

I opened the workshop with council’s Acknowledgement of Country to recognise the Wurundjeri, as traditional custodians of Maroondah:

Maroondah City Council, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledges that we are meeting on the land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on land which the Indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

We accept, respect and have shared with the Wurundjeri people in their customs of welcome.

The Wurundjeri people support the coming together of all people, respecting their individuality, to focus on a unified and cohesive nation.

The acknowledgement reflects on the diversity of our community and that all people possess leadership qualities. Leadership can take many forms and I am sure that the participants from today’s workshop will gain insight into leadership and strengthening their own skills and abilities.