The Aspire program provides professional development and governance training for Muslim women who are:
Participants will learn how to improve governance within their community organisations while also developing their own leadership skills.
Applications for the 2020 program have now closed. Email [email protected] to receive a notification when applications open in January.
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.
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 in 2019 and 2020 and, while doing so, train select past participants to progressively assume responsibility for subsequent iterations of the program from 2021.
Aspire is designed for Muslim women who:
During the Aspire program you will:
Dates: April – October.
Offered by: Sir Zelman Cowen Centre.
Location: City Queen Campus, Victoria University, Melbourne (plus 1–2 offsite events).
Fees: The program is free for successful applicants.*
*Course costs only. Travel costs (to and from the course) will not be covered.
Aspire participant giving a presentation.
You will participate in a series of on and off campus activities.
Please note that these dates may be subject to change.
Aspire Graduation 2018 with Dr. Nasya Bahfen.
Aspire is open to high-achieving young leaders who:
We encourage you to apply if you:
Note: you do not have to be a current or past student of Victoria University. If you meet the above criteria, you are welcome to apply for the Aspire program.
Aspire teambuilding activity at camp.
Sixteen young women (aged 18-24) will be selected for the Aspire program each year. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.
Applications for 2020 are now closed. Email [email protected] to receive a notification when applications for 2021 open.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact:
Sophie Moore
Aspire Project Coordinator, Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +61 3 9919 1841.
Each year, the Aspire cohort creates a suite of resources. These resources are made freely available online.
Participants of the 2019 program created online interactive resources on four governance topics.
Each year, the Aspire cohort creates a suite of resources. These resources are made freely available online.
Participants of the 2018 program created training packages on four governance topics and facilitated tailored governance workshops for their respective Muslim community organisations.
Participants of the 2017 program created five governance guides which were displayed to over 300 people at the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre’s Faith Based Governance and Dispute Resolution Conference in December 2017.
The Aspire 2017 photo gallery can be viewed online.
If you have any questions about the program, or would like to become involved as a guest speaker or partner organisation, please contact:
Sophie Moore
Aspire Project Coordinator, Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +61 3 9919 1841.
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.
Contact the Aspire Project Coordinator if your organisation would like to be considered as a partner agency.
