Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program
The Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program is delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia and proudly supported by the Victorian government.
Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program
Empowering women and gender diverse people to become leaders
About the program
The Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program honours the legacy of the late Joan Kirner AC. The program supports Victorian women and gender diverse people to follow in her footsteps by addressing leadership challenges and equipping them with practical skills and strategies to advance on their leadership journey.
Women and gender diverse people are under-represented in leadership roles across all industries and in the broader community. When they do reach leadership positions, they are concentrated in lower levels of management, even in industries with majority-women workforces.
This places women at greater risk of long-term, compounding, and disproportionate social and economic disadvantage. It also locks women out of decision-making processes and forums that affect them.
The Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program aims to support emerging leaders on their leadership journey, so that women and gender diverse voices are heard at the decision-making table.
The program welcomes women and gender diverse people 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.
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 next
intake begins in May 2026. Applications open in March.
Positions in this program are fully funded by the Victorian government. There is no cost to participants.
Eligibility
Successful applicants must:
- Identify as a woman or gender diverse person
- Be a Victorian resident
- Be aged between 22 - 40 years old at the time of application
- Work in the for-purpose sector
- Be available to participate in all program components.
- Have not participated in a previous iteration of the program.
2026 Program Timeline
Workshop 1: Leadership theory; Leadership and management
Date: Mon, 11 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 2: Leadership through change and crisis; Leadership and organisational culture
Date: Mon, 18 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 3: Leadership and ethics; Leadership and yourself
Date: Tue, 19 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 4: Emotional intelligence and leadership; Complex workplace problems
Date: Mon, 25 May
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Workshop 5: Leadership and strategy; Leading and my purpose
Date: Mon, 1 June
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 1: Human resources and diversity: Flexible working policies and the four-day work week
Date: Wed, 10 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 2: Gender inclusion in leadership: Strengthening representation on boards and executive teams
Date: Thu, 11 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 3: Implementing change that sticks: Overcoming barriers to sustainable workplace transformation
Date: Wed, 17 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 4: Psychological and cultural safety: Creating inclusive and supportive work environments
Date: Thu, 18 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Small group activities with guest speakers.
Date: Mon, 15 June
Time: 6pm-7.30pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
To be booked at any time throughout the program with career and workplace coach Celeste Tramonte.
Date: Mon, 22 June
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Application process
Round opens: Monday, 2 March 2026, 9am
Round opens: Monday, 30 March 2026, midnight (end of day)
Notification of outcome to applicants: Before Monday, 20 April 2026
FAQs
Program overview
People who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- People who identify as a woman or gender-diverse person
- Victorian resident
- Aged between 22-40 years old at the time of application
- Working in the for-purpose sector
- Available to participate in all interactive learning development workshops
- Has not participated in a previous iteration of the program.
You must be 22-40 years old on the day of your application.
This program is for emerging leaders and there is no pre-requisite learning required to join.
All participants must have access to a device, Zoom, and the internet.
There is no cost to participate in this program, as all places are fully funded.
Application process
Applications open on Monday, 2nd March 2026 at 9am.
Yes, you can still apply for this program.
We do not accept applications for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
You must submit your application by midnight (end of day) on Monday, 30th March 2026.
You will be notified by email of the outcome of your application, by Monday, 20th April 2026.
Program schedule and location
The program starts on Monday, 11th May 2026, and ends on Monday, 22nd June 2026.
Workshop 1: Leadership theory; Leadership and management
Date: Mon, 11 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 2: Leadership through change and crisis; Leadership and organisational culture
Date: Mon, 18 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 3: Leadership and ethics; Leadership and yourself
Date: Tue, 19 May
Time: 9 – 9.30am coffee and registration, workshop from 9.30am-4.15pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Workshop 4: Emotional intelligence and leadership; Complex workplace problems
Date: Mon, 25 May
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Workshop 5: Leadership and strategy; Leading and my purpose
Date: Mon, 1 June
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 1: Human resources and diversity: Flexible working policies and the four-day work week
Date: Wed, 10 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 2: Gender inclusion in leadership: Strengthening representation on boards and executive teams
Date: Thu, 11 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 3: Implementing change that sticks: Overcoming barriers to sustainable workplace transformation
Date: Wed, 17 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Webinar 4: Psychological and cultural safety: Creating inclusive and supportive work environments
Date: Thu, 18 June
Time: 1pm-2pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Mentoring circle: Small group activities with guest speakers.
Date: Mon, 15 June
Time: 6pm-7.30pm
Location: Online, via Zoom.
Graduation
Date: Mon, 22 June
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Joan Kirner Room, Our Community House, 552 Victoria Street, Wurundjeri Country, North Melbourne
Most sessions will take place online on Zoom. Some sessions will take place in person at Our Community House in North Melbourne, Victoria.
Course participation
Full day workshops (both in-person and online) and the mentoring circle (online) will not be recorded. The webinars will be recorded.
We provide an Access Fund for travel, accommodation and other access needs. Participants are responsible for organising their own travel and/or accommodation. To access this Fund, participants must tick “yes” in the application form question asking if you require Access assistance.
We provide administrative support throughout the course. Please notify us of any requirements in your application.
We can provide some IT support throughout the course. All participants are required to have access to a device, Zoom, and the internet. Please notify us of your requirements when applying.
No, just yourself! We will provide a workbook, pens, refreshments and catering for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
We understand sometimes things don’t go as planned. Please notify us as soon as possible in writing by emailing info@ourcommunity.com.au if you are no longer able to attend a session.
You can withdraw from the course at any time before the first event on Monday, 27th April. Please notify us in writing by emailing info@ourcommunity.com.au if you are no longer able to participate in the program so we can offer your place to the next person on the shortlist.
Yes. Please email us at info@ourcommunity.com.au and we can work with you to accommodate your requirements.
We can provide an Access Fund for travel, accommodation and other access needs. To access this Fund, participants must tick “yes” in the application form question asking if you require Access assistance.
Participants will only be reimbursed after they attend the session, so attendance is compulsory for reimbursement, without exception. Reimbursements take place on Wednesdays after the sessions occur.
Completion and outcomes
You will receive a Certificate of participation at the graduation event on Monday, 22nd June 2026.