Aspire: Governance & Leadership program for Future Leaders

The Aspire program helps young people to become leaders and influencers within their communities.

The Aspire program provides professional development and governance training for young leaders who are:

  • aged 18 to 22
  • living in Victoria
  • actively involved in a community organisation, group or society.

Participants will learn how to improve governance within their community organisations while also developing their own leadership skills.

Applications for the program closed on 11 October 2021.

3 guest speakers standing in front of two banners (Sir Zelman Cowen Centre and Islamic Council of Victoria). They're smiling with closed mouths.
Two presenters speaking to a powerpoint in front of several students sitting at desks
Program participants sitting around a table discussing their group project.
Photo of a program participants celebrating in a group circle
Collection of Aspire workbooks produced by participants

Program history

Sir Zelman Cowen Centre’s Aspire program offers governance and leadership training for young leaders and has been supported by the Islamic Council of Victoria and the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation.

The Aspire program has been gradually devolving to be taken over by a community organisation. For the final year of the devolution we have partnered with Happy Brain Education to offer leadership and governance training for young leaders of all faiths and genders.

Thirty-two young women completed the 2017 and 2018 Aspire programs, which were delivered by the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre in partnership with the Islamic Council of Victoria.

In 2018 the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre was awarded a grant from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation to deliver Aspire for two more cohorts of young women and, while doing so, train select past participants to progressively assume responsibility for subsequent iterations of the program.

Sixteen young Muslim women completed the program in 2019, creating digital governance resources for their community organisations and building a strong network amongst themselves and Aspire alumni.

Program objectives

Aspire is designed for individuals who:

  • hold, or would like to hold, leadership or board roles (secretary, treasurer, president etc.) in community organisations or societies
  • are interested in governance, running meetings, risk management and leadership.

During the Aspire program you will:

  • improve your strategic, risk analysis and leadership skills
  • develop a facilitative solution to leadership issues you experience within your community organisation 
  • meet other high-achieving young leaders
  • foster your employability skills.

Course structure

You will participate in a series of on- and off-campus activities.

Course work

  • 2-3 full days of face-to-face activities
  • 2-3 online sessions
  • Major project – guided by mentors you’ll develop a solution to an integral leadership issue within your community organisation.
  • Opportunity to participate in leadership day as a mentor to high school students.

Events & workshops

Please note that these workshops are indicative only and subject to change.

  • Workshops facilitated by mentors and guest speakers:
    • leadership styles
    • good governance
    • meeting processes
    • conflict resolution
    • risk assessment
    • public speaking
    • facilitation
    • media and advocacy.
  • Development of a practical solution to an existing leadership issue:
    • project outline and meeting your groups
    • feedback session with mentors
    • shark tank panel
    • project due date.
  • Leadership day preparation training
  • Leadership day
  • Graduation ceremony
  • Alumni event.

Eligibility

Aspire is open to high-achieving young leaders who:

  • are 18-22 years old (at the time of application)
  • live in Victoria, Australia
  • are involved in a community organisation
  • can commit to all training days.

We encourage you to apply if you:

  • are from a newly-arrived community
  • arrived in Australia during the last ten years.

Note: you do not have to be a current or past student of Victoria University. If you meet the other eligibility criteria, you are welcome to apply for the Aspire program.

What attendees had to say

...working with others and learning from each other, the opportunity to feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself, giving hope that we can address the issues sooner than we think.

– 2019 participant

It has been great meeting such like-minded young women who are as ambitious as me and as interested in wanting to implement positive change within our communities.

– 2017 participant

 

Activities & resources

Each year, the Aspire cohort creates a suite of resources. These resources are made freely available online.

Get involved

The Centre enlists the help of ‘model agencies’ – organisations with excellent governance – to assist with several aspects of the Aspire program, including the mentoring component.

If you have any questions about the program, or would like to become involved as a guest speaker or partner organisation, please contact us.