While more than 35,000 women in Australia have now experienced the Springboard development programme, the programme’s results are greater than mere numbers.

Developed by The Springboard Consultancy (SBC), a UK-based international training company specialising in addressing women’s development issues, the Springboard programme is delivered by a number of licensed trainers in Australia. The programme enables women to identify the clear, practical and realistic steps that they want to take to make a better world for themselves at work and home, while building the practical skills and confidence to take these steps.

According to the Springboard-licensed trainer, Lisa Baker, of the Melbourne-based training and facilitation consultancy, Kaleidoscope Consulting, “Generally, participants hope that Springboard can help them meet their various current challenges. When they can be clear on these challenges and address them, other aspects of their life become better as well.

“Then they can take a number of ‘small steps’ that enable them to make a great deal of progress.”

Lisa Baker, of Kaleidoscope Consulting.

Among Australia’s other Springboard successes are Margaret, Penny and Tamara.

Margaret, from Telstra in Perth, Western Australia, is an Aboriginal woman who – until she joined the Springboard programme – was an Administration Officer, level 3.  After completing the programme she realised her capability as a leader and, in a short time, jumped four levels in her organisation.

A Springboard programme encouraged Tamara, a Project Manager, to run for local government office because she felt she could help her diverse community. She was elected and is now using her abilities to serve the wider community.

Then, at a Victorian public sector programme, it emerged that Penny had cooked breakfast for her truck driver husband every working day for 20 years.  She felt trapped by this but stayed in the trap.

By the last Springboard workshop, Penny had stopped cooking breakfast and negotiated alternative breakfast options with her husband. At this workshop, Penny dressed and did her hair differently to demonstrate that, as she said, she’d ‘started her journey back to herself’.

Commenting that Springboard programmes align with the philosophy of gender equality, Lisa Baker said, “While there are many reasons for the gender inequality in our society, we need more women having their voice and stepping up to lead. We need more women involved in making the decisions that govern our everyday lives.

Lisa added, “I enjoy seeing women find their own strength, inspiration and ways to take action via the Springboard programme. It’s great to see them take control, grow, look and sound different by the end of the programme.

“It’s deeply satisfying to be part of the many amazing stories and changes I’ve known over the years. There’s not a Springboard workshop where I’m not inspired by the women’s stories of their lives.”

Employers value the Springboard programme too. The Manager of Staff Development at Melbourne’s Monash University recently said, “The Springboard women’s development programme is one of our most highly regarded and well-attended programmes. Participants consistently rate the programme very highly, and the phrase most often heard from them is ‘life-changing’.

“With such positive outcomes, there has been a definite return on investment for the university. Many managers have experienced the benefits of having staff complete Springboard, which is why they continue to recommend Springboard to their female staff.”

To read more about how the Springboard programme is working in Australia visit the case studies page of the Springboard Consultancy website.