Milparanga Emerging Leadership Program
Grow leadership skills with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders in a culturally safe space, make waves in your community and sharpen your leadership skills. The Milparanga Emerging Leadership Program is an immersive and culturally safe experience that helps shape you into a better communicator and leader.
Eligibility
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples aged 21 years and older in the early stages of leadership
Commitment
6-day session plus travel to location
Investment
Program fee: $15,290 (covered by scholarship)
Participant contribution: $220
Delivery mode & venue
Delivered face-to-face in a residential program setting in Cairns
Dates
12-17 November 2025
Make change happen in your community with Milparanga
A community that embraces adaptability and openness to change is well-positioned for a brighter future. Discover how to effectively prepare for and navigate change, and leverage your influence to support others through the transformative Milparanga Emerging Leadership program.
This transformative program equips you with the skills to apply cultural awareness, gender perspectives, political insights, and environmental understanding to your decision-making. Moreover, you’ll build a robust peer network dedicated to collaborative leadership and collective impact.
Milparanga Emerging Leadership Program is designed to give a deeper understanding of Country, awareness of self and others, truth-telling, culture and inclusion. You’ll build the confidence to be an advocate for social and positive change in your community or industry.
What you’ll take away from the Milparanga Emerging Leadership Program
Wonder more about yourself and the world
Be curious and question the world around you because good leadership is about asking the hard questions and creating awareness of yourself and the world you lead in. Wonder leads to better leadership.
Challenge old ideas and your community
Great leadership is made in the ability to identify obstacles and barriers that exist in your community and challenge them. You’ll learn to challenge yourself and your community, too.
Drive innovation in your community
What challenges exist in your community? What issues exist that are caused by doing things how they’ve always been done? Why not change them? We’ll empower you to drive change through innovation.
Nourish your connections and networks
Your connections and your wider network – whether in your community, your professional sector, or elsewhere – are important. You’ll learn to nourish these relationships to empower your leadership style.
Be persistent in your vision and for your community
Persistence is key, and it’s a direct byproduct of resilience. Be persistent, whether in your vision or just generally in your community. You’ll learn to lead with influence through persistence.
Would you like to improve your leadership?
- Have a positive impact in your community, sector or industry and support others to act?
- Explore how to use leadership to influence change?
- Develop your confidence to use your voice, your networks, your personal story and experience for the greater good?
- Understand yourself better and challenge your own beliefs? You’ll understand the impact it can have on your decisions and actions.
- Let go of ideas and actions that are holding you back and focus on the things that will allow you to have a positive impact?
- Learn how to communicate effectively to resolve conflict?
- Explore a personal leadership challenge with others in this program?
Activities you’ll engage in on program
Hear stories from Indigenous leaders & engage in truth telling
Meet and workshop with Milparanga alumni
Visit culturally significant sites to learn about Indigenous history and legacies
Activities that will help you develop self-awareness and how to communicate with others
Challenging outdoor recreational components
Behavioural/personality profiling activities (awareness of self and others)
Communications and advocacy skills training
Robust conversations that will honour existing skills and knowledge, as well as provoke thoughts and assumptions
Testimonials
Frequently asked questions
Have a question that we haven’t answered below? Get in touch with our friendly team. We’re happy to help.
Yes, Milparanga is facilitated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and facilitators and the content is designed with a cultural lens.
In part, you will be required to pay a participant contribution fee of $220 AND, in partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency the ARLF is able to cover all other costs. If you need to use your own money for a cab from the airport to a hotel you will be reimbursed, this is clearly outlined in your contract.
The ARLF does offer a number of privately funded scholarships. If this interests you, please contact partnerships@rural-leaders.org.au
Yes, you will receive an itemised packing list a few weeks out from coming on program, and we can assist with items you may not be able to get in your community.
Yes, it may. 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.
We have first aid officers on the program to assist as your safety is paramount.
We provide an immersive program experience therefore mobile phones may be removed for periods to enhance your engagement and experience. Mobile phone reception may not be available during some periods on the program. Your family will be provided with contact information in the case of an emergency and program facilitators will be notified.
We kindly ask that you do not share any information about program locations and activities on any social media platforms.
We ask that you make prior arrangements with your workplace and inform them that you will not be able to work during the period of the program.
An experiential learning program
At the ARLF, we’re big on experiential learning – learning programs that immerse you and help you learn and grow through learned lessons. You’ll hear stories from Indigenous leaders, visit culturally significant sites to learn about Indigenous history and legacies, and meet and hear stories from Milparanga alumni.
Milparanga Emerging Leadership incorporates outdoor activities. You can expect to be pushed outside of your comfort zone with activities that help you get to know yourself better and make you a better communicator. We’ll take you by surprise most days. Not knowing exactly what you will be doing each day is all part of the experience.
An experiential learning program
At the ARLF, we’re big on experiential learning – learning programs that immerse you and help you learn and grow through learned lessons. You’ll hear stories from Indigenous leaders, visit culturally significant sites to learn about Indigenous history and legacies, and meet and hear stories from Milparanga alumni.
Milparanga Emerging Leadership incorporates outdoor activities. You can expect to be pushed outside of your comfort zone with activities that help you get to know yourself better and make you a better communicator. We’ll take you by surprise most days. Not knowing exactly what you will be doing each day is all part of the experience.
Want to recommend someone other than yourself? Use our Shoulder Tap.
Become a partner
If you are interested in becoming a partner, please view our Partnerships page.
