National Landholder and Community Engagement Training Details
Gippsland, VIC | 4, 5 and 6 March 2025
Join us for the 4th National Landholder and Community Engagement Training in the Gippsland Region!
Quick links:
Event overview
Building Trust: The Power of Collaboration
Mark your calendar for 4–6 March 2025 and join us in Traralgon, Victoria—in the Gippsland Region at the heart of Australia’s energy transition. This unique, immersive training is designed for those working with landholders and communities on renewable energy projects. It’s your chance to enhance your skills, build stronger relationships and create better shared value outcomes.
Why Attend?
- Hear from Landholders + Community: Gain direct insights into what’s working, what builds trust, and opportunities to improve.
- Build your Toolkit for Trust: Learn practical tools and strategies to foster collaboration and trust.
- Expand Your Know-how: Gather actionable strategies for route and site selection, empowering you to more effectively collaborate with landholders and communities.
- Learn from Leaders: Dive into lessons learned from experienced land agents and community engagement leaders and discover how to elevate landholder + community voices to decision-makers.
- Explore Gippsland: A full-day field trip will showcase the real energy transition in action, set against the stunning backdrop of Gippsland’s landscape.
What You’ll Gain:
- Practical tools, fresh insights and actionable skills to take your engagement efforts to the next level.
- Connections with like-minded folk from the renewable energy sector.
- Inspiration and knowledge to build trusted, collaborative relationships that drive shared value.
What to Expect
Here’s a sneak peek at the topics and activities designed to inspire and equip you:
- Toolkit for Building Trust in the Renewable Energy Transition: Practical strategies from the Energy Charter.
- Landholder + Community Insights Panel: Hear firsthand what trust-building looks like on the ground.
- Industry Collaboration for Building Trust: Learn how working #BetterTogether can elevate outcomes for landholders, communities and your organisation.
- The Challenge + Power of Coordinated Engagement: A lively panel discussion involving offshore wind proponents.
- Building Trust in Conversations: An interactive activity to sharpen your skills.
- The Power of Collaborative Engagement in Route/Site Selection: Training to amplify landholder and community voices.
- Influencing Decision by elevating Landholder and Community Voices: Insight-sharing to influence internal decision-making.
- Site Visits: Experience the energy transition in action in Gippsland and gain valuable practical insights to take to your communities.
- Opportunities to Share Insights: Exchange ideas and expand your network with peers nationally.
If you’re part of the renewable energy sector—be it wind, solar, hydro, batteries, distribution or transmission—this is your chance to upskill and connect!
About the facilitator
Wendy Agar, Engaged Outcomes is your guide throughout the training. Wendy’s 30+ years of rural engagement experience and passion for building resilient, inclusive communities will inspire and empower you to make a difference.
Wendy is a rural engagement expert, dedicated to securing industry, organisational and community buy-in for a range of projects that create opportunities for rural, regional and remote Australians. She has a deep understanding of how people and organisations work, and a passion for empowering people to support stronger communities where the economic and social benefits are shared.
Her extensive experience in bringing diverse interests together is backed by qualifications in education, business and human resources, with accreditations in stakeholder engagement, change management and behavioural profiling. She knows what it takes to connect with people in a real way, and has deep regional networks and industry connections that support her mission – to achieve Engaged Outcomes.
Wendy Agar
Managing Director
Engaged Outcomes
Agenda
Day 1 - Welcome + setting the scene
- Transport: Our dedicated coach driver will complete drop-offs at our recommended hotels (see below).
- Location: Traralgon Tennis Centre, 61 Franklin Street
- Arrival: 1:30 pm – Pick up your name tag and settle in for a 2:00 pm start.
- Inclusions: Start with a light lunch, meet old friends and make new ones. Afternoon tea is also provided.
- What’s happening:
- Welcome to Country and a captivating First Nations Story.
- Insights from guest speakers on the importance of trust-building in community engagement.
- The Landholder + Community Insights Panel offering real perspectives and experiences. This panel is a unique feature of the Energy Charter training.
- Wrap up: 5:15 pm with a short hop to our Connect Drinks
- Wind down and Connect Drinks: End your first day with a fun, relaxed networking session. Enjoy drinks canapes and a guest speaker sharing on Gippsland partnerships.
- Wrap up: 7:15 pm – Explore a local restaurant if you’re up for more!
Day 2 - Practical insights and training
Kickstart your morning with a coach pickup at 7:30 am for a quick breakfast at the Tennis Centre, then dive into an action-packed day.
- Transport: Our dedicated coach driver will complete transfers to daily starting points.
- Location: Traralgon Tennis Centre, 61 Franklin Street
- What’s happening:
- Expert panels featuring community and renewable energy leaders sharing actionable insights.
- Guest trainers to help you build a Toolkit of Trust.
- Facilitated workshops to apply your learnings in real-time.
- National Training Dinner: Unwind at The View Function Centre, a stunning winery just 10 minutes from Traralgon.
- What’s included:
- 🍇 Farm-to-Plate Delights: Locally sourced menu paired with estate wines
- 🎤 A Story Worth Sharing: Our host’s inspiring journey of sustainable food and wine sourcing
- 🍹 Drinks on the Deck: Relax, sip cocktails and soak in the rural charm
- 🍽️ Dinner & Dessert: Connect over a delicious sit-down meal, with a special guest speaker.
- Dress Code: Time to “frock up” for an elegant evening!
- Transport: Convenient coach and maxi taxi options.
- What’s included:
Day 3 - Full day excursion
See the energy transition come to life! We are putting the final touches on the excursion to make sure it’s interesting and caps off your learning.
- Transport: Our dedicated coach driver will complete transfers to daily starting points. One coach will return to Traralgon for those travelling home by car or train.
- Activities: Visit landholder sites and renewable projects and hear directly from local landholders and communities.
- Important Info:
- Wear safety boots and bring a hi-vis vest (we’ll help if you don’t have one).
- Expect light walking on flat, uneven terrain.
- Wrap-Up: By 3:00 pm – with transport back to Traralgon or Melbourne Airport.
Training locations
Days 1 + 2 - Traralgon Tennis Centre 61 Franklin St, Traralgon
Day 3 Training Locations - Full day bus excursion
There will be some walking involved from the bus to each site, this is expected to be around 500 metres and on flat but uneven terrain. We will be going onto landholder sites – please wear hiking or safety boots and bring a High Vis vest. If you do not have a High Vis vest, please email awhitehouse@salesassured.com.au.
Safety and induction procedures will be held on the bus prior to the visits, please note hot beverages may not be consumed on the bus.
Transport options
Nestled 164 km east of Melbourne, Traralgon is easy to reach, whether you’re flying in, driving, or taking the train. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip:
For Interstate Travelers
Flying into Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)
- A pre-booked coach will depart Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) at 10:30am on Tuesday, 4 March, arriving in time for lunch at the Traralgon Tennis Centre
- On Thursday, 6 March, a return coach will leave Traralgon at 3pm, ensuring you’re back at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) by 6pm.
- Key tips:
- Plan to land at Melbourne Airport by 10am
- If you’re traveling from Queensland or regional NSW, you may need to arrive on Monday afternoon and stay overnight in Melbourne
- Staying near the airport? Hop on our Coach for hassle-free travel
Intrepid train travellers from Sydney or Wagga Wagga
There are overnight trains each way on Monday 3 March and returning 6 March – if you book yourself a Sleeper, you’re sure to arrive refreshed!
For Travellers from Melbourne and Ballarat
Self-Drive Option
- From Melbourne CBD: Enjoy a scenic 2-hour drive
- From Ballarat: Hit the road for about 3.5 hours.
Train Option
- Catch the 10:23am train from Southern Cross Station to Traralgon, arriving at 12:40 pm. From there, a quick taxi ride will get you to the Traralgon Tennis Centre to join us for lunch.
Accommodation options
- Mantra Traralgon 192 Franklin St, Traralgon. Ph (03) 5112 2200
- Bridges on Argyle 84/90 Argyle St, Traralgon. Ph (03) 5116 7800
- Traralgon Serviced Apartments 18A Peterkin St, Traralgon. Ph (03) 5176 0377
Training support
Anne Whitehouse
Support Service – Sales Assured
E: awhitehouse@salesassured.com.au
M: 0412 206 621 (please text for on-day support)
