Benevolent Society

Social Leadership Australia is a specialist not-for-profit consultancy established by The Benevolent Society to build our national capacity to create social change.

We have a track record for creating and delivering innovative leadership development programs with the purpose of achieving positive social outcomes.

Our work

Social Leadership Australia runs a range of open enrolment programs to develop the leadership capacity and skills of individuals. We also partner with diverse organisations from across all sectors to build their internal leadership capacity to manage complex change and make positive social contributions.

Open enrolment programs

These include our annual 10 month Sydney Leadership and Queensland Leadership Programs, which attract participants from government, corporate and community sectors. Graduates join a growing and committed network (our 'Alumni') with the skills and drive to exercise leadership on the most challenging and uncertain social environments.

Consultancy and tailored programs

We will work with you to develop the style, format and length of program best suited to your organisation and your strategic objectives.

Issues based programs

We work with specific communities of interest (eg. Indigenous leaders, Islamic youth in Western Sydney) to develop partnerships that will lead to progress in tackling Australia's most complex and entrenched social issues. 

Our adaptive leadership model

Social Leadership Australia uses an adaptive leadership model as the basis for all our programs. We view leadership as a set of skills that can be learned and strengthened, where there is motivation and desire supported by training, practice and feedback.

Many of our programs use real-life challenging environments in the community to explore the issues, dynamics and complexity that characterise the work of leadership.  Case studies, simulation, scenario planning and team exercise give participants a chance to explore analytical frameworks and the latest research and have opportunities to apply what they learn to their current leadership challenges. 

As well as developing practical leadership skills, participants increase their understanding of organisational challenges, improve their negotiation, problem-solving and communication and team-building skills and build enduring networks of leaders.   

• Find out more about adaptive leadership by downloading the article at the bottom of this page.

Social Leadership Australia in the media

Some recent media coverage includes:

• 'Getting to know all about you,' a feature story by Adele Horin about the Sydney Leadership Program in The Sydney Morning Herald News Review, 31 October 2009 here.
• Different leaders for today's world,' an article about new approaches to leadership by Fiona Smith, Editor of Work Space, in The Australian Financial Review, 29 September 2009 here.
• 'Australia's oldest charity leads a movement for social change,' an article by Marina Elliott for Third Sector, 25 August 2009 here.
• 'Getting real about leadership,' an article by Liz Skelton, Senior Manager, Programs, Social Leadership Australia, in Fundraising & Philanthropy, August 2009, available for download below.

"Our vision is to develop a network of leaders with the skills, capacity and determination to take positive steps towards Australia's future wellbeing."

Richard Spencer, CEO, The Benevolent Society

"Whether it be in the business world, or in politics, the prevailing leadership model still emphasises power, vision, persuasion, charisma and strength. But this seductive model of leadership is ultimately a limited and unhelpful view. The challenges we now face in our organisations, communities and globalised world are simply too complex, messy and interconnected for any one person to have all the answers. We cannot wait for the Great Leader to arrive. We must be ready to start tackling these challenges ourselves."

Robbie Macpherson, Head, Social Leadership Australia

"We are the ones we have been waiting for."

June Jordan, poet