Supporting CRCs to Good Governance Project

The Mt Burdett Foundation is proud to support initiatives that build leadership and capacity in regional Western Australia. One such initiative is the “Supporting CRCs to Good Governance” project, led by the Rural Regional Remote Women’s Network of WA (RRR Network) and funded through the Rural and Regional Advancement Foundation (RRAF). 

This project aims to boost governance capability among women leaders of Community Resource Centres (CRCs), a vital but often overlooked sector in regional WA. With support from the Mt Burdett Foundation and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), ten CRC Chairwomen from across the Wheatbelt, South West, and Great Southern regions have participated in the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Governance Essentials Course, offered online for the first time to regional participants only. 

There are more than 100 CRCs across Western Australia, independently owned, not for profit hubs that connect local communities with government services, training, and essential support. Many are managed and governed by volunteers, the majority of whom are women. 

Yet, as RRR Network research shows, many regional women in governance roles face significant barriers to accessing formal training. Isolation, travel costs, lack of access to networks, and limited exposure to board level education all contribute to a skills gap, despite these women playing critical leadership roles in their communities. 

By investing in governance training for ten CRC Chairwomen, this project directly strengthens not just the individuals, but the institutions they represent, and by extension, the communities they serve.

The project has run from April 2024 to June 2025, and included: 

• AICD Governance Essentials Course: A fully online program designed specifically for regional leaders. 

• Ongoing mentoring and evaluation: The RRR Network has tracked the impact of the course over 12 months through meetings, surveys, and feedback loops. 

• Case studies and storytelling: The lived experiences of each Chair will be documented and shared to inspire others and advocate for ongoing investment in governance education. 

• Community impact surveys: Local residents will be invited to reflect on any improvements in CRC service delivery post training. 

This initiative aims to create stronger CRC boards, better collaboration between board members and managers, and ultimately, more efficient and impactful service delivery in regional communities.

With CRCs being a vital service and engagement hub in small towns, lifting their governance standards has the potential to create a ripple effect across the entire region. It leads to better decision making, improved risk management, clearer strategic direction, and more sustainable volunteer engagement, especially for women juggling multiple community roles. 

“This project is about more than just one training course,” says RRR Network CEO, Kendall Galbraith. “It’s about recognising the leadership already happening in our regions and equipping women with the tools they need to thrive—and to help their communities thrive, too.”

The Mt Burdett Foundation is proud to fund this initiative, which aligns strongly with our focus on human capacity building, regional empowerment, and sustainable community development.

If your organisation or group has a vision to grow skills, leadership, and resilience in regional WA, consider applying for funding through the Rural and Regional Advancement Foundation.