AN INVITATION TO ASPIRING BOARD DIRECTORS

The Observership Program 2026  

– Pathway to board directorship for aspiring young leaders based in the South West region of Victoria

The Observership Program pairs talented emerging leaders with not-for-profit and government boards across Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane for a 12-month period. 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. 

In Victoria’s South West Region, The Observership Program has partnered with prestigious boards such as Brophy Family and Youth Services, Southern Stay Disability Services, South West Healthcare, South West TAFE, United Way Glenelg, Wannon Water and Western Victoria Primary Health Network, to offer an accessible Program for talented professionals to gain valuable board experience and governance training. 

The Program’s participating boards are seeking candidates aged 25-45* with professional skills, based in the South West region of Victoria to learn about and contribute to board work. 

* The Observership Program has extended the candidate age criteria for candidates who reside in the South West region of Victoria. 

 APPLY VIA THIS LINK – South West Region application form

To apply, you need to: 

• Be based in South West Victoria 

• Be aged between 25 and 45* years old. 

• Be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and live in the state for the duration of the Program. 

• Have either no prior board experience or little or no formal governance training. 

• Have a passion for the for-purpose sector and want to make a valuable contribution to the South West regional community while learning about board governance. 

• Have capacity and support to attend all board meetings and 10+ training sessions (some of which are online and some are face-to-face in Melbourne CBD). 

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. All our collateral, emails and invitations are accessible. 

Please review the following prior to starting your 2026 application: 

• The 2026 SW Region Sample Application form  

• The FAQs can be found here.  

• The 2025 Handbook can be found here.  

• The Program’s Terms and Conditions  

• ‘An introduction to The Observership Program’ (video) 

• Video explaining ‘Tips and hints for Successful Applications’ 

 APPLY VIA THIS LINK – South West Region application form

Please refer to the FAQs, 2026 sample application, 2025 Program Handbook and watch the videos above. 

Should you require further information, please contact: 

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

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. 

Acknowledgement of Country 

The Observership Program acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging. We also accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart to walk together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.