Victorian LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program

The LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program aims to strengthen the skills and networks of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual leaders. The program commenced in 2018 and more than 130 people have participated.

The program provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to build their leadership and organisational management skills, as well as network with other LGBTIQA+ leaders.

Participants explore issues, challenges and opportunities unique to LGBTIQA+ communities and contemporary leadership theory and practice.

Participants leave the program with:

increased confidence
an understanding of their strengths and leadership abilities
knowledge of LGBTIQA+ histories and achievements
learnings from the experiences of other LGBTIQA+ leaders.

About the 2024 program

The 2024 program is tailored for LGBTIQA+ people who hold established leadership roles in LGBTIQA+ organisations and groups.

The program will run from Friday, 15 March to Thursday, 6 June 2024.

The program will provide participants with strategies for sustainable and resilient leadership to support and enhance LGBTIQA+ communities and the Victorian LGBTIQA+ sector.

A key part of the program is to tackle the challenge of burnout that leaders in the LGBTIQA+ sector often face.

Participants will have the opportunity to form and be part of a 'community of practice' or network of leaders.

The community of practice will be based on the principles of working together and shared leadership. It will be a community where everyone’s contributions are valued and are part of our collective success.

This year's program draws on the insights from previous years and has been co-designed with LGBTIQA+ communities for LGBTIQA+ communities.

The program will cover the following topic areas:

Leading Self: Delving into personal purpose, impacts, vision, and sustainable leadership practices. Including strategic direction and career planning.
Leading Others: Focusing on interpersonal leadership skills, covering the cultivation of organisational strategy, impact, and purpose, as well as service alignment, co-design and lived experience.
Leading in Community: Exploring community impact, strategic collaboration, expanding community networks, and collective action.

Format

The program is a mix of in-person and online activities. It includes:

a weekend intensive (Lancefield location)
four online group coaching sessions
three workshops (online and in-person)
a closing event (in-person).

Schedule

Date	Activity
Friday, 15 March to Sunday, 17 March	In-person weekend intensive in Lancefield
8 April – 12 April 22 April – 26 April 6 May – 10 May 27 May – 31 May	Four online group coaching sessions (held during business hours, times will vary for participants)
18 April (online) 2 May (in-person) 16 May (online)	Online and in-person workshops (held during business hours)
Thursday, 6 June	In-person closing event

Applications have closed

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in mid-February 2024.

Applications opened on Tuesday, 5 December 2023 and closed at 5 pm on Friday, 19 January 2024.

Eligibility criteria – who can apply

To participate in the program, you must:

identify as LGBTIQA+
be over the age of 18
hold a formal or informal leadership role within an LGBTIQA+ organisation.
have the endorsement of your organisation to participate in the program.

Formal and informal leaders

The program acknowledges the diverse spectrum of leadership. Those who may not hold formal or traditional titles in their organisation can still be pivotal in driving progress for their communities and the sector.

A formal leadership role includes CEOs, deputy CEOs, directors of services and managers or similar.

Informal leadership roles may include voluntary positions, community change agent/advocate roles, or community representative roles where you are driving change for communities.

Endorsement to participate

Participants must have endorsement from their current organisations to participate. This will help to ensure they are prepared to grow in expertise from this opportunity. It will also mean that participants are supported to bring their learnings and reflections back to their organisation and apply these in their current roles.

Diversity

The program seeks a diverse cohort to ensure an intersectional approach to leadership within communities. This includes but is not limited to people identifying as:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
people of colour
culturally and/or religiously diverse people
people from rural and regional communities, and
people with disability.

Long term leaders

This opportunity is less suited for LGBTIQA+ sector leaders who hold long-term positions of leadership and influence in their organisations and already have strong established sector networks.

Leaders who meet these criteria are welcome to contact the program organisers for opportunities to support the delivery of this program in a mentorship capacity.

Selection criteria

In your application, please provide responses to the following:

Tell us about yourself. We would like to know about your identity and culture, who you are and where you live in Victoria.
Your leadership experience, including current leadership role(s) and its impact on LGBTIQA+ communities.
Your views about and experiences of collaboration on LGBTIQA+ issues, including examples of when you have collaborated within the sector for positive outcomes.
How you think that this program will support LGBTIQA+ communities and have positive impacts on the sector.
Your views on the program focus on LGBTIQA+ sector sustainability and addressing burnout, and whether there are other issues being experienced within the sector.

Your application responses must show:

your leadership experience with an LGBTIQA+ community organisation or group
your commitment to enabling and supporting collaboration within the LGBTIQA+ sector
consideration for how this program can lead to positive impact and change for the LGBTIQA+ sector
consideration for the issues being experienced by the LGBTIQA+ sector.

Your application must also be endorsed by your organisation. You will need to provide the contact details for a reference at your organisation.

Frequently asked questions

The LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program is a Victorian Government initiative to develop the skills and networks of leaders within Victoria's LGBTIQA+ communities.
The 2024 program is designed for those in leadership roles within LGBTIQA+ organisations and groups, aiming to strengthen their capabilities and resilience as well as their networks and collaborations.
The program includes:
- an immersive weekend intensive in Lancefield
- four online group coaching sessions
- two online workshops and one in-person half-day workshop
- a closing celebration event.
Topics will range from strategic career navigation, purposeful leadership, and influence, and exploring concepts and strategies for self-awareness and sustainability in leadership roles.
Participants will explore the dynamics of individual, organisational and community leadership within the LGBTIQA+ context.
Additionally, the program will delve into creating and leading collective action and community impact through networks and sustainability.
The 2024 LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program seeks dynamic individuals ready to shape the future of Victoria's LGBTIQA+ communities and sector.
Ideal candidates hold influential roles and are known for their passion and capacity for enacting positive sector-wide change.
Participants should:
- be in senior leadership roles or similar in organisations or groups supporting LGBTIQA+ communities.
- be committed to fostering inclusive and supportive environments and addressing challenges within the sector.
- show a readiness for professional development, willingness to engage deeply with program content, and apply their learnings to enact change.
- be prepared to work on content and reflection individually, enhancing their contribution to the sector.
- have the endorsement of their current organisation to participate, ensuring their organisation’s investment in their professional growth and application of program learnings.
- represent the reality of diverse and intersectional identities within LGBTIQA+ communities, contributing to the program's commitment to diversity.
This program is for those who are ready to advance their leadership journey and who seek to be part of a collective effort to elevate the LGBTIQA+ leadership landscape in Victoria.
We understand that participants come from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, and we are committed to facilitating adjustments to ensure full participation in the program.
If you require specific adjustments or have cultural safety needs, please contact us so that we can support your involvement.
Your access needs will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and respect and will not influence the assessment of your application.
Please email equality@dffh.vic.gov.au for any assistance or to discuss your requirements.
Applications are welcome from individuals living in border communities who have a substantial connection to Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities.
To be eligible, applicants living in border communities should hold a leadership role within an organisation or group that has a significant presence in Victoria and can demonstrate their impactful contribution to the community within the state.
If you are currently living interstate or internationally, you are not eligible to apply for this program.
However, please contact us if you have unusual or temporary living arrangements outside of Victoria and would still like to be considered for this program.
We encourage you to still apply for the program if you meet the other selection criteria for the program. This could include that you:
- have previously worked in an LGBTIQA+ organisation
- have experience directly supporting LGBITQA+ communities in your current role
- have other relevant experience supporting LGBTIQA+ communities.
We understand that recognised leaders with LGBTIQA+ communities may not always hold roles in LGBTIQA+ organisations or groups. However they still play a key role in fostering strong and sustainable LGBTIQA+ communities.
Depending on the number of applications received through the program, we may prioritise applications from those who work within LGBTIQA+ organisations.

Previous participant testimonial

Testimonial from program alumni Jayde de Bondt, 2018 graduate, who was appointed the co-chair of Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Taskforce in 2020.

Jayde has the following to say about the program:

The LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program was challenging and rewarding. I started this program with a clear understanding of what I wanted to learn and found myself learning things that I didn’t expect to. The technical skills that I acquired were great, but it was the soft intrapersonal skills and additional confidence I gained through this program, I value most. The Program enables you to develop as a person and deepens your connection to the LGBTIQA+ community, and the folk who are on this journey with you. Moving forward, I certainly want to lead with a more people-centred approach; where consultation, collaboration and innovation are both valued and rewarded.
Jayde de Bondt
Co-chair LBGTIQA+ Taskforce

Contact information

For more information about the LGBTIQA+ Leadership Program or the application process, please email: equality@dffh.vic.gov.au

Updated 19 January 2024