
Australian Rural Leadership Program
The Australian Rural Leadership Program supports individuals who want to respond to regional, rural, and remote Australia’s most complex challenges, as well as the opportunities that arise.
Get all your ARLP questions answered
Register now for our ARLP applicant webinar
Discover firsthand what makes our Australian Rural Leadership Program exceptional. Gain insights into the application process, program structure, and the incredible opportunities that await you. Don’t miss this chance to interact with our team and hear from past participants. Reserve your spot now and take a step closer to becoming a part of our thriving leadership community.
Eligibility
Established leaders ready to tackle complex challenges and have significant impact on rural, regional and remote Australia.
Commitment
15-months program including 4 face-to-face sessions between 5-10 days in length, online sessions and independent project work.
This program includes both international and remote domestic travel with isolation from day-to-day duties and limited to no contact.
Investment
Program costs are covered by funding partners. Between 30-35 sponsored places are available each year and each scholarship is valued at $60,500.
Participant contribution: $5,500
Delivery mode & venue
Combination of face-to-face residential workshops, online sessions and project work both individually and with fellow participants.
Course 33 dates
Session 1: 10 -21 Jun 2026, Session 2: 29 Aug- 7 Sep 2026, Session 3: 31 Mar - 9 Apr 2027, Session 4: 8-12 Aug OR 15-19 Aug *dates depend on Parliament sitting week
Apply
Applying for the ARLP is competitive and rigorous. We match the applicant receiving the scholarship to a funding partner whose industry or purpose they align with.
Annual course intake is between June & August. Expressions of interest are open all year round.
Lead in rural, regional & remote Australia
We envision thriving communities in regional, rural, and remote Australia where people work with one another and the environment around them; respectfully, boldly and intuitively. Become a part of it.
Through challenge-based and experiential learning, you’ll get the opportunity to immerse yourself in these indispensable experiences and networks. The experiences you have here will shape the rest of your career and life.

What you’ll take away from the Australian Rural Leadership Program
Innovate and think of new ideas to tackle challenges
Think of current and future challenges. What new ideas or collaborations will empower you to respond to them? Innovation is essential in making change.
Identify challenges and how to overcome them
Look at your sector and community. What obstacles and barriers exist? How might we remove them? You’ll learn to not only identify challenges but overcome them, too.
Wonder more about yourself and the world
Learn to check in and ask yourself the hard questions. Learn about your behaviour and the world you operate in. Wonder leads to awareness and awareness? It leads to great leadership.
Nourish your relationships and connections
How are your relationships and connections established? Do you tend to them? Relationships need to be nourished to thrive, and your connections can define your leadership.
Be persistent in your vision
You have the vision to make change in rural, regional, and remote Australia. So, how will you remain committed? How will you stay committed to your vision through the trial and error stages?
Before you start
The Australian Rural Leadership Program is a big commitment. There’s so much to run through, and we need your time, focus, and commitment to deliver the content in a meaningful way. You’ll need to be able to commit to 15 months of sessions, which will take place across Australia and overseas.
We recommend you speak with your family and your employer before you apply. They need to understand exactly the commitment you’re making and be supportive of the time you’ll be investing.
Each year’s program is tailored to the ARLP cohort
The Australian Rural Leadership Program wouldn’t be effective if we delivered the same program every year. The point is that we want to react and adapt to current and relevant problems in our sector. Each year, we take the demographic and objectives of our cohort into consideration, along with the current issues being faced in rural Australia.
This allows us to deliver a highly relevant experience that gives our participants the chance to learn in this real-world context. You’ll gain adaptive leadership skills that support you in confidently overcoming challenges and acting for the greater good.
Activities you’ll engage in on program
Discovery and awareness session
Increase your self-awareness and how you impact others. The program will mostly take place in an isolated location where you’ll be challenged on an individual and group level. As part of this, you will receive time for reflection and connection to Country and Traditional Custodians.
Connection and mobilisation session
Immerse yourself in the opportunities and challenges facing Australia and the Indo-Pacific region and explore critical leadership responses.
Networks and affiliation session
You’ll be invited to select an area of your leadership to develop. It’s an immersive, deep dive into a range of areas, including negotiation, mediation, governance, advocacy, design-thinking and systems-thinking.
Influence and impact session
We’ll take a look at leadership, influence and advocacy at a national level. This session also covers community resilience and includes a multi-day immersion on Country. *Session structure subject to change.

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You’ll walk away with a meaningful network
ARLP Graduates get exclusive access to our diverse, national alumni network of more than 2,600 rural, regional, and remote leaders. Surround yourself with like-minded leaders who are just as dedicated to making a positive impact and facilitating changes in their communities as you are.
All ARLP Graduates who meet all the program requirements can also request to become an ARLF Fellow. This offers you regular networking opportunities, resulting in better connections and engagement in leadership conversations. The fellowship offers you more chances to connect and work with a professional network of peers across rural, regional and remote Australia.
Want to recommend someone other than yourself? Use our Shoulder Tap.

Become a fellow
If you’ve graduated from the ARLP and met all the program requirements, you can request to become an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation fellow. This gives you access to regular networking opportunities, allowing you to make meaningful connections and engage in leadership conversations. As a fellow, you’ll also have more chances to collaborate with a professional network of peers from rural, regional, and remote Australia. Join the ARLF fellowship to take your leadership journey even further.
Apply Now
Start your journey to join exclusive access to our diverse, national alumni network of more than 2,500 rural, regional, and remote leaders. Surround yourself with like-minded leaders who are just as dedicated to making a positive impact and facilitating changes in their communities as you are.
Frequently asked questions
If you have a question, you might find the answer below. If we haven’t answered it, our friendly team is happy to chat with you. Get in touch via email or give us a call on (02) 6281 0680.
We offer a wide range of scholarships to support leaders from diverse industries, regions, and backgrounds. These scholarships help reduce or remove the financial barrier to participation and are made possible through partnerships with a variety of organisations and supporters.
You can apply for more than one scholarship if you meet the eligibility criteria. Please read each category carefully before selecting your preferences in the application form.
Scholarship Categories and Eligibility
Industry-Based Scholarships
These scholarships are intended for individuals working in or with specific industries:
- Cotton industry – Two scholarships: one for a cotton grower and one for someone in the supply chain or research.
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Dairy farming – For current dairy farmers; must be the applicant’s primary employment.
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Dairy farming (Victoria only) – As above, but for Victorian-based producers.
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Fisheries and seafood – For individuals working in or supporting Australia’s fishing and seafood industries.
- Grains industry – For professionals or leaders working in or on behalf of the grains sector.
- Horticulture Industry – For professionals or leaders working in or on behalf of the horticultural sector.
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Meat processing – Co-funded scholarship for someone employed in the meat processing sector (50% of the cost must be met by the employer or applicant).
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Red meat production – For current red meat producers; also co-funded (50% required).
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AgriFutures emerging or levied industries – For those working in industries such as chicken meat, honey bees, ginger, export fodder, thoroughbred horses, kangaroo, rice, buffalo, goat fibre, tea tree oil, and pasture seeds.
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Innovation in Agriculture – Includes a $20,000 bursary and requires a short proposal for an innovative project in agriculture. This will also fund an overseas study trip post-graduation.
Region-Based Scholarships
These support applicants based in specific regions of Australia:
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Central Australia – For leaders based in the Central Australian region.
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Northern Territory – For those based in the NT with a long-term commitment to the region.
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Queensland – For long-term QLD residents committed to contributing locally.
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South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia – State-based scholarships for local leaders.
Identity-Based Scholarships
These are intended to support equity and inclusion:
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First Nations identified scholarship – For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
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Torres Strait identified scholarship – For individuals who identify as Torres Strait Islander and live in the Torres Strait or Northern Peninsula Area.
Self-funded, Staff or Employer-Linked Scholarships
Available for specific organisations or through co-funding arrangements.
- Self-funded / Employer-supported – For applicants whose participation will be funded by their employer or personal sponsor.
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Open scholarships – Available to any applicant, regardless of sector or location.
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Other / not on list – Select this option if your situation doesn’t fit into the listed categories.
Important Note: While we aim to offer scholarships across all of the above categories, availability is not guaranteed and may vary from year to year depending on funding partners. Some scholarships are fully funded, while others require co-contribution from the applicant or employer.
We encourage all applicants to apply for any and all scholarships for which they meet the criteria.
Of course. If you work in the agribusiness sector, asking your employer to fund your place is a great professional development opportunity.
Here are some tips for when you ask your employer to support you:
Each organisation has different processes or policies regarding employee development and training. You can usually find this information in your employee handbook or intranet, or you can contact your human resources (HR) team.
For smaller organisations, this may be just a conversation with your direct manager.
Speak with your manager about your career and leadership journey. Leadership development is different for everyone and requires an adaptive learning approach.
By talking to your manager about your career path and areas for development, you can begin the conversation on how to achieve your goals and what is best for your organisation.
Sometimes you just need to ask the question. This may be in an email or in person. To assist you in asking the question, we have prepared an example email below for you to send to the decision maker.
Hi <insert name>,
I’m emailing you as I’d like to discuss my career and leadership development within our organisation. I would like to develop my leadership capabilities and my networks within the agribusiness sector by undertaking a leadership program.
One opportunity I have identified is the Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program. It is a bespoke leadership development program for the agribusiness sector, in particular agribusiness leaders, who wish to increase their impact in the businesses and communities in which they live and work.
The 11-day program initiates structured pathways for future leadership development and offers access to a diverse, national alumni network of over 2000 rural, regional and remote leaders.
The dates and locations are:
– INSERT SESSION DATE
The program is an opportunity for me to meet and learn with influential agribusiness leaders and examine the complexity, challenges and opportunities for the Australian agribusiness sector. I would also build connections across a supportive network of leaders across the breadth of the sector.
The cost of the AALP is $15,510+ GST. I would pay the participant contribution of $220+ GST.
As the registration deadline for the program is INSERT DATE, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards,
<insert name>.
If you would like us to contact your organisation directly, please contact us.
Yes, it does. Our programs are intentionally designed to foster deep learning, resilience, and growth by including elements of challenge and uncertainty. These experiences are created with inclusivity in mind, ensuring a safe space to navigate discomfort. The uncertainty is deliberate—it mimics the unpredictable challenges leaders often face, helping you develop the skills to adapt and thrive in the face of the unknown.
Your safety is paramount, and we hope you will not get sick or injured. We do have first aid officers on all programs to assist in an emergency.
Working while you’re in a session will significantly reduce your ability to focus and get the most out of it. It might also not be possible due to the location and schedule of the program. We, therefore, ask that you make prior arrangements with your workplace and inform them that you will not be able to work during program sessions.
We provide an immersive program experience. Therefore, mobile phones may be removed for periods to enhance your engagement and experience. Mobile phone reception may also not be available during some program periods. Your family will be provided with contact information to notify our facilitators in the event of an emergency.