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Women’s Board Leadership Program

The Victorian Government is committed to advancing gender equality and increasing the diversity and representation of women serving on boards.

Overview

Status: Closed

Who can apply: Individuals

In recent years, Victoria has seen great progress in the representation of women on boards, with women now making up 54% of all public board positions in 2023. However, we still need a much greater representation of Victoria’s diverse community serving on boards, including women from culturally diverse communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with a disability and women who identify as LGBTQIA+.

The Victorian Government is sponsoring 50 women to undertake an online Diploma of Governance as part of the Women’s Board Leadership Program, delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA). The Victorian Government doubled the number of scholarships available in 2023 following the huge demand for places from the community sector in 2022.

The 2023 Diploma of Governance scholarship will provide governance training and networking for all women to advance their board careers in the not-for-profit sector.

Applications closed on 15 March 2023.

Read past participants’ experiences

Guidelines

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The Diploma of Governance delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) will support you to develop enhanced skills and approaches to further your board career. You will have 12 months to complete the Diploma of Governance, and will need to commit time to undertake online learning modules and individual work assignments. Please see the full course program on the ICDA’s webpage and consider the time commitment before applying.

For further information, please visit ICDA’s website.

There are 50 spaces available in the 2023-24 intake.

Applications must be submitted via the ICDA website, using the Application Form.

Applications opened 7 February 2023 and closed on 15 March 2023.

This opportunity is a competitive, merit-based process and applications are submitted directly to ICDA. All applications will be assessed within four weeks from the date of your submission, and successful applicants will be notified by May 2023.

The full value of the Diploma of Governance is $4,500, comprising enrolment, assessment and administration. The scholarship covers the full cost of the course.

This program is designed for women who are currently serving or aspire to serve on boards of not-for-profit organisations or committees of management.

The scholarship is for women seeking board positions, brand new board members, experienced board members, and senior staff who work with boards.

We strongly encourage applications from First Nations women, women with a disability, women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people and women from rural and regional Victoria.

Program dates

Following are the commencement dates of the Diploma of Governance:

Start date: 5 June 2023

Completion by: 5 June 2024

Start date: 3 July 2023

Completion by: 3 July 2024

Start date: 31 July 2023

Completion by: 31 July 2024

Start date: 23 Aug 2023

Completion by: 23 Aug 2024

For more information about the course, the application process or any other questions about the program, please contact training@communitydirectors.com.au or 03 9320 6800.

Updated 12 January 2026

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