Australian Rural Leadership Program

Applications for Course 30 open 30 June to 31 July 2022.

Expressions of interest now open!

Leadership for rural, regional & remote australia

The Australian Rural Leadership Program is a 15-months leadership development course for individuals committed and ready to respond to regional, rural and remote Australia’s most complex challenges and biggest opportunities.

The program is unique in its challenge-based and experiential approach to learning. Participants immerse themselves in experiences and networks remaining indispensable for most throughout the rest of their career and life.

By considering the participant group’s demographics, their objectives and rural, regional and remote Australia’s current challenges and opportunities, each program is tailored to the cohort.

Learning in this real-world context, means participants develop adaptive leadership skills to confidently overcome challenges and act for the greater good.

Key Dates

Application period: 30 June – 30 July 2022

Shortlist interviews: September 2022

Successful applicants notified: February 2023

Session 1: 12 – 25 June 2023

Session 2: 14 – 29 October 2023

Session 3: 13 – 26 March 2024

Session 4: Aug/ Sept 2024

*Session dates are preliminary and may change.

Securing a place

The application process for the ARLP is competitive and rigorous. Only 25 to 30 funded places are available via scholarships from industry sponsors. Valued at $50,000 per participant, each scholarship is matched with an applicant aligning with the sponsor’s industry, sector or purpose. Each participant is also required to pay an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Fellowship network fee of AUD $5,000 (plus GST). The network fee is invoiced in five instalments over the duration of the program (15 months).

Committing to ARLP

The Australian Rural Leadership Program is delivered in four sessions over 15 months. Sessions take place in Australia and overseas (subject to travel restrictions). To graduate from the program, participants must complete all sessions and invest additional time in between sessions to complete project work. Completing the ARLP is a significant commitment throughout these 15 months and beyond. Sponsors make a significant investment participants, their vision and commitment to have an impact.

For those considering to apply, we recommend having conversation with your family and employer before applying. It is important they understand and are supportive of the time you will be investing in the program. Once you have their support, start thinking about your leadership responsibilities, achievements, other leadership development programs, why you want to complete the program and the impact you wish to have on rural, regional and remote Australia as a result. You will need it for your application.

ARLP participants are diverse in terms of gender, age, cultural and linguistic background, education, employment status and location. Despite the diversity, participants share a willingness to make a commitment to leadership action in rural, regional and remote Australia. The following questions may guide you in determining whether you should apply.

Are you future-focused and contributing to the long-term prosperity of your organisation, sector and community?

Are you a curious learner, keen to understand the role leadership plays in building networks and connections?

Are you interested in supporting your organisation, sector and community, and exploring how you can have a positive impact?

Are you a collaborator who welcomes the change to work across political, cultural, social and economic differences and bring all perspectives to the surface?

Are you open to experiential learning, learning about yourself and others, redefining your personal views on leadership?

You will be challenged to get out of your comfort zone and asked to embrace new experiences, draw strength, knowledge and inspiration from others and challenge others.

Session content

Session 1: Discovery and Awareness

Begin the program by engaging in individual and group challenges. Most sessions will be undertaken in a remote location offering opportunities for connection to Country and engagement with Traditional Custodians.

Session 2: Connection and Mobilisation

Select an area of leadership to develop. This is an immersive, deep dive into a range of areas that may include negotiation, mediation, governance, advocacy, design-thinking and systems-thinking.

Session 3: Networks and Affiliation

Engage in an immersive exploration of leadership and people in an international context.

Session 4: Influence and Impact

Collectively examine influence and impact by engaging with experience leaders with a focus on regional leadership and community resilience.

*Session structure subject to change.

Six Leadership Practices

We explore different interpretations of leadership and behaviours associated with it, including six fundamental leadership practices.

Join the Network

Graduates get exclusive access to the diverse, national alumni network of more than 1,800 rural, regional and remote leaders having a positive impact and facilitating change in their organisations, sectors and communities.

Graduates meeting all program requirements can also request to become an Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Fellow. Regular networking opportunities mean ARLF Fellows connect and engage in leadership conversations. A fellowship provides more chances to connect and work with a professional network of peers across rural, regional and remote Australia.

Brianna Peake, ARLP 21, CBH Group

You don’t use the lessons and skills gained all at once, but you tuck them all away to use later…you can refer to the experiences and learnings years afterwards.

Watch Video

Find More Graduates

Know a perfect candidate?

If you know a great candidate for the Australian Rural Leadership Program, recommend them with our shoulder tap.

Shoulder Tap

Sponsor a candidate

We are continuously seeking partners to sponsor our diverse range of candidates with ARLP scholarships and building leadership capacity in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Learn More

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands on which we meet, work and live and recognise that this land has always been and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.