What is the Hub Leader Exchange Program?
We are excited to announce the Hub Leader Exchange Program, being piloted this year. The program is a CHA-funded initiative where hub leaders can connect, share, and learn in a different hub to their own as part of their professional development.
Eight hub leaders – four hosts and four visitors – will be selected to participate in the exchange program. Hub leaders are invited to apply for the unique opportunity to visit a host hub for an immersive three-day peer-to-peer learning experience between 29 July and 9 August, 2024. During the three-day visit, host and visiting hub leaders will share successes and challenges in the hub, and exchange ideas about hub programs and partners, and ways for building engagement with the school and the community.
The exchange participants will reflect on what was learnt and what can be shared with the network as part of being a national community of practice. The exchange program will enable all hubs to apply new and shared ideas that will help build and maintain a thriving community hub network.
Visiting hub leaders must have permission, availability and capacity to spend three days visiting another hub, and to complete pre and post learning. Therefore, before applying, it is essential that hub leaders discuss this with their Principal. Support coordinators and Principals will be asked to complete a form to support their hub leader’s application, and to act as a referee if the hub leader is shortlisted. The roles and responsibilities document for support coordinators can be found here.
After the success of last year’s 2023 Connect. Share. Learn National Conference, CHA received feedback from hub leaders expressing how wonderful it was to connect with peers working in different communities across Australia. The exchange program has been co-designed with hub leaders to provide a valuable experience and to encourage ongoing sharing of knowledge and ideas throughout the national network of community hubs. Based on the outcomes of this pilot, CHA hopes to offer the exchange experience to more hub leaders in the future.
Four hub leaders will visit four host hubs for three consecutive days between 29 July and 9 August, 2024. Following the exchange, CHA will support host and visiting hub leaders to present their learnings with the network. This may be through, for example, photo and video diaries, guides and resources, as well as presentations at future national community hubs conferences. Exchange program participants will work together to build an agenda for the period of exchange based on the sample agenda below:
DAY ONE – Connect
DAY TWO – Share
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The participating hub leaders will have the opportunity to attend hub activities, and school and stakeholder meetings for three consecutive days between 29 July and 9 August, 2024. They will be responsible for completing pre-exchange preparations and post-exchange reflections in their own time. As participating in the exchange program sits outside of the normal hub leader role, and may impact normal hub operations, it is important that hub leaders have school leadership approval before applying. Participating hub leaders will be expected to travel and work during their normal hours and receive their normal pay during the three days. Pay for any additional hours worked by hub leaders as part of the exchange program is at the school principal’s discretion.
The visiting hub leaders will experience the environment and culture of another hub, observing the way the host hub leader works with participants, the school, the support coordinator, and service providers. Host hub leaders will have a chance to showcase the programs they run and share their successes and challenges with another hub leader. All exchange program participants will share their knowledge and experience and gain ideas to apply to their own hub.
Host hubs
CHA will select four host hubs based on the following criteria:
- Well-established hub programs across the areas of engagement, early childhood, English, and vocational pathways.
- Strong relationship between hub and school and with local service providers.
- An enthusiasm and openness to learn and share more broadly.
- Location – CHA intends on selecting one host hub from each state.
Host hubs will be announced in Term 2, 2024.
Visiting hub leaders
CHA is inviting applications for the role of visiting hub leader and will review these applications ahead of creating a short list of applicants to interview. Applications are open for all hub leaders to apply (except those at host hubs). The four visiting hub leaders will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Availability and capacity to spend three days visiting another hub, and complete pre and post learning from the exchange program.
- Ability to reflect on the experience and share learnings with the national hub network.
- An enthusiasm and openness to learn and share more broadly.
- Support from school leadership and support coordinator.
- Location – CHA intends on selecting one visiting hub leader from each state.
The roles and responsibilities document for visiting hub leaders can be found here.
Visiting hub leaders will be announced in Term 2, 2024.
Applications to be a visiting hub leader will be through SmartyGrants with applications open from 6-28 March, 2024.
To find out more about this professional development opportunity for hub leaders, watch the online information session here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1TaaRuRHXw
We look forward to receiving hub leaders’ applications to participate in this exciting pilot program in 2024!
Once applications have been received, they will be reviewed in the following stages:
1. Application reviewed
2. Nominated references contacted
3. Shortlist invited to interview
4. Application outcome
Irrespective of CHA’s final decision, all hub leaders will be notified of the outcome of their application.
To view frequently asked questions, refer to this document. If you have any further questions to add to the document, email maianelson@communityhubs.org.au.