Women Sporting Leaders Building the Skills to Thrive
Victorian women will have the chance to build the specialist skills to thrive in leadership roles in the sport and active recreation sector, thanks to the new Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program.
Applications are now open, with this annual Program tailored to ensure relevant opportunities are extended across all career stages, from individuals new to the workforce, to those returning from a career break, through to CEOs and new and aspiring directors.
It offers five streams including grants of $10,000, the opportunity to attend an international conference and much more.
There’s also the opportunity to receive personalised career coaching to help women map their career paths and identify the skills they will need to reach senior leadership roles.
Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, Sarah Styles, said “The Change Our Game Professional Development Scholarships Program pulls together a number of initiatives to provide a leadership program that is flexible and personalised – it will be a real game changer.
“With 10 short years until a home Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has never been more critical to ensure we dismantle the barriers preventing all leaders in our sector from being given the opportunities to obtain and thrive in leadership roles.
“I call on all organisations in the sector to identify which of your team members you will be nominating for each of the five streams available in this year’s Program.”
Those successful in the Champions Stream will also get the chance to attend the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport, being held in New Zealand in November 2022, as part of the Change Our Game Delegation. The group is the world’s largest network dedicated to advancing gender equity and equality in sport, physical education and physical activity.
Key Dates:
- Applications open: Monday 25 July 2022
- Applications close: 5pm AEST, Monday 22 August 2022
- Announcement of successful applicants and candidates: October 2022
.
Eligible candidates are encouraged to work with their organisation who must lead and submit the application. Please ensure you read the Program Guidelines before applying.
.
Stream | Eligibility | Program Offering |
Learning | Women with less than 5 years’ paid experience in the workforce OR Women who are returning or have recently returned to work* following a career break (e.g. parental leave). | Grants of up to $5,000 for specialist skill development, specific to the Candidate’s paid role in the sector |
Next Generation Leaders | Women with more than 5 years’ paid experience in the workforce with aspirations to be a senior executive leader in the sport and active recreation sector, such as a CEO. | Access to a series of one-on-one and small group sessions with a leading career coach to identify and hone the pathway, skills and techniques required to achieve your aspiration to be a CEO or senior executive leader |
Executive | Women with more than 10 years’ paid experience in the workforce, who hold a CEO position or currently report to a CEO. | Grants of up to $10,000 for development in technical skill areas such as strategy, negotiation, change management, accounting and finance |
Governance | New or aspiring women directors in sport and active recreation seeking to strengthen their understanding of governance processes. | Foundations of Directorship Course delivered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors |
Champions | Women with more than 5 years’ paid experience who hold a role specifically relating to women’s sport and/or inclusion in sport and active recreation. Candidates can be nominated for the Champions stream in addition to other streams for which they are eligible. Candidates can be successful in the Champions stream as well as another stream of the Program. | Grants of up to $3,000 to subsidise costs associated with attending the 8th International Working Group (IWG) World Conference on Women and Sport in New Zealand from 14-17 November 2022, including: - InspirePLUS pass - five nights' accommodation in Auckland - return economy flights from Melbourne |
*The Candidate must have returned to the workforce no more than 12 months prior to the time of application | ||
