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Women are under-represented in key decision-making roles across almost all industries, and the social sector is no different.
According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, just 19 percent of women in Australia are CEOs and only around a third are board members and chairs. We want to do what we can to change that for our sector.
NCOSS and Chief Executive Women (CEW) have joined forces to create the Harrison-Church Women’s Leadership Scholarship—a program designed to nurture, elevate, and celebrate the exceptional women already making a difference in our communities. Over the next three years, 15 NCOSS members will gain access to CEW’s renowned Leaders Program.
This isn’t just professional development. It’s about recognising the remarkable talent that already exists within our sector and giving our future women leaders the platform, connections, and confidence to soar. We understand the financial and operational pressures our members face, which often makes transformational learning feel out of reach. This scholarship removes that barrier.
I know firsthand how life-changing this program can be.
I was fortunate enough to participate in 2017, and it remains the most valuable professional development experience of my career. At the time, I was leading a medium-sized charity, completely immersed in serving our stakeholders. It took a friend, mentor, and senior leader to encourage me to apply—and truthfully, it wouldn’t have been possible without scholarship support.
Those intensive days of learning, reflection, and growth are rare gifts in the not-for-profit world. The calibre of facilitation and speakers is exceptional, and the exercises designed to help you understand yourself and your leadership impact are profound. But perhaps most valuable is the network you build—connections with high-performing leaders across all sectors that become sources of strength, inspiration, and possibility for years to come. Mine certainly have been.
And if you’re thinking, “It’s not the right time” — I gave birth during my program! My experience was woven through with pregnancy, breastfeeding, and sleeplessness… and it was absolutely, unequivocally worth it.
We want to hear from you—especially if you are:
• Working in a small-to-medium NCOSS member organisation
• Based in rural or remote NSW
• A First Nations leader working for an ACCO or ACCHO
Five scholarships are available each year for three years, made possible by a generous philanthropic donation to NCOSS.
The first-round closing date has been extended to Sunday 15 February—so I encourage you to take that leap. Apply from wherever you are across NSW. Your sector needs your leadership. We need your voice. And you deserve this investment in your future.
This is your moment. Don’t let it pass you by.