The Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders program is delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia with support of the Victorian Government. It aims to support young and emerging women leaders to:
- address the leadership challenges they face
- equip them with practical skills and strategies to advance on their leadership journeys
- deepen their awareness of the structural barriers that limit women’s leadership and representation.
Applications for the 2026 program are now open.
How to apply
Apply through the Institute of Community Directors.
Key dates
- Applications open: 9 am, Monday 2 March 2026
- Applications close: midnight, Monday 30 March 2026
- Notification of outcomes: Monday, 20 April 2026 (at the latest)
- Program begins: Monday, 11 May 2026
- Graduation: Monday, 22 June 2026
What does the program involve?
The program takes place across six weeks. Participants take part in:
- 3 full-day in-person workshops
- 2 full-day online workshops
- 4 one-hour webinars
- a mentoring circle
- a leadership strengths test
- a graduation event.
The program honours the late Joan Kirner AC, who was the first woman Premier of Victoria and the second in Australia. She was named a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2012 for ‘eminent service to the Parliament of Victoria and to the community through conservation initiatives, contributions to gender equality, the development of education and training programs and the pursuit of civil rights and social inclusion’.
Eligibility
To apply, you must:
- identify as a woman or gender diverse person
- be a Victorian resident
- be aged between 22 and 40 years old at the time of application
- work in the for-purpose sector
- are available to participate in all program components
- have not participated in a previous round of the program.
This program has a focus on supporting opportunities for women from organisations that might not have the resources to support formal leadership training.
The program welcomes the involvement of women and gender diverse peoples from all backgrounds. This includes young women, women from regional and rural areas, First Nations women, women who live with disability, women from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and LGBTIQA+ women.
Previous rounds
Earlier iterations of the program were delivered by Leadership Victoria.
- Round five concluded in November 2025. It was open to women and gender diverse people in the not for profit, community and grassroots sectors.
- Round four concluded in November 2023 and was open to emerging women leaders from multicultural and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Round three concluded in June 2023 and was open to women across all industries.
- Round two was delivered in 2022 and focused on women employed in non-traditional and male-dominated industries.
- Round one was delivered in 2022 and was open to women across all industries.
Contact us
For questions about the program, visit the Institute of Community Directors Australia website or email info@ourcommunity.com.au.
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