Community Leadership Fellowship
Published on 07 March 2023
From 6 March 2023 until 14 April 2023, the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) will be accepting applications for the Women Leading Locally fellowship, an opportunity for women in Victoria to hone their governance and campaigning skills ahead of the 2024 local government elections.
The Victorian government has funded 65 full-fee places in the fellowship program. The program provides a unique opportunity for Victoria’s women to be supported into local government by skilled facilitators who want them to succeed and know what they will need to get to the finish line.
The fellowship will build a pathway for participants to stand for local government elections through a combination of face-to-face peer support events and online workshops spanning campaigning, leadership and governance. Speciality content and mentoring will be provided by Women for Election, a non-partisan not-for-profit with a mission to inspire and equip more women to run for public office, and other key partners.
On completion of the program, participants will be awarded a ‘Women Leading Locally – Community Leader Fellowship’, a new designation accredited by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA). Those who complete the eight compulsory fellowship units will also receive an ICDA Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance (Local Government).
The program is designed to inspire, equip and sustain women to become – and remain – successful local representatives for their communities.
Fellows from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts will be encouraged to form a strong alumni, offering mutual friendship and support, and will be supported to keep up the pace all the way to the 2024 local government elections.
Women from 32 local government areas, including Colac Otway Shire Council will be prioritised in the selection process.
You can register your interest in the program to receive communication when it opens/apply now at communitydirectors.com.au/training/women-lead.
Step forward, step up. Take the opportunity.