CALLING ASPIRING BOARD DIRECTORS 

The Observership Program 2026  

– Pathway to board directorship for people with lived experience of disability 

The Observership Program pairs talented emerging leaders with not-for-profit and government boards across Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane for a 12-monthperiod. Observers gain practical boardroom experience while participating in a comprehensive governance training program supported by Program partners; the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre.  

Working with Disability Sector partners, we offer an accessible Program for talented professionals to gain valuable board experience and governance training. Observers gain practical boardroom experience while participating in a comprehensive governance training program supported by Program partners; The Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre. 

The Program’s participating boards are seeking candidates aged 25-45* with professional skills and lived experience of disability to learn about and contribute to board work.We also invite your organisation to nominate talented professionals with disability for the opportunity to be a board observer. 

* The Observership Program has extended the candidate age criteria for candidates who identify with a disability.

How The Observership Program supports candidates and Observers who identify with disabilities. 

The Observership Program is committed to ensure any environment, employment or service opportunity is inclusive of people with disabilities.  

• Provide adjustments including accessible documentation and collateral for candidates and Observers 
• All participating boards are provided with a tool kit of materials and resources to enable them to support candidates and Observers with disability during the interviewing, matching and hosting periods. Including: 
• A Confidence with Disability training session has been filmed and distributed to all participating boards. 
• Accessibility Checklist for hosting People with Disabilities, which relates to adjustments and other support on offer. 
• Guidelines for running Accessible Board Meetings. 
• AusDN’s newly published accessibility guide for Board Directors 
• Designing training sessions that work for all learning styles and needs
• Creating a more comfortable, effective experience for everyone involved

The Observership Program is committed to creating an inclusive experience for all participants. Sharing information about adjustment needs including those they may not traditionally classify as “disability accommodations”. Here are some examples: wheelchair access, advance materials, flexible scheduling, digital participation options, sensory space, support animal and specific communication preferences.

A complete list can be found here. LINK TO FAQs 

Accessible documentation and collateral

We have an accessible website; we have ensured that our website and the application platform meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 to at least a level AA compliance. 

• An accessible copy of the 2025 Sample Application form 
• An accessible copy of the FAQs can be found here. 
• An accessible copy of the 2025 Handbook can be found here. 
• An accessible copy of our Terms and Conditions 
• Emails and invitations are accessible. 
• An accessible video ‘An introduction to The Observership Program’. 
• An accessible video explaining ‘Tips and hints for Successful Applications’. 

 APPLY VIA THIS LINK  FROM 9AM ON 30 JUNE 2025 UNTIL 9AM ON 31 AUGUST 2025 

Please refer to the FAQs, 2026 sample application, 2025 Program Handbook and watch the videos. Should you require further information, please contact:

Victorian Program:
Catherine Reiser, Director, The Observership Program, Victoria, catherine.reiser@observership.com.au, 0400 454 250

Sydney and Brisbane Programs:
Rachel Exton, NSW and Brisbane Program Lead, rachel.exton@obervership.com.au , 0447 592 515 

Accessibility Statement 

The Observership Program is committed to ensuring user experience and accessibility for people with disability. We will continue to evolve and improve the accessibility of our Program by listening and learning from people with lived experience of disability.