2025 LEAP
Womens Professional Development Program

In partnership with the State Government of Victoria, LEAP (Lead, Engage, Achieve, Promote) is back for 2025!

The LEAP (Lead, Engage, Achieve, Promote) program continues in 2025, focusing on developing the talent and leadership skills of women in sport administration while aiming to inspire them to reach their full potential and leadership capabilities. The last cohort saw 20 participants from various sporting organisations graduate from the LEAP program.

You can watch testimonials from previous LEAP participants below:

Who can apply?

Participants need to meet the following selection criteria to be eligible to participate in the LEAP program.

• Hold a management position in sport or active recreation for five (5) years or less.
• Be ambitious and possess a desire to improve their leadership capabilities and progress to more senior positions within the sport and recreation sector.
• Be open to mentoring and be actively engaged in the process.
• Committed to completing the required project outside of the session times.
• Attendance in-person at all sessions is essential.
• Applicants must reside in Victoria.

Key Program Outcomes

• Building personal and group leadership capability.
• Create an interactive community of leading women who are supportive of themselves, each other and those who follow them.
• Foster an environment of collaboration and sharing among stakeholder organisations.
• Promote the roles of women leaders across all aspects of sport.

Program Content

The LEAP program is based on developing the following capacity and capability in participants:

• Personal and group leadership capability.
• Creating an interactive network of leading women who are supportive of themselves, each other and those who follow them.
• Foster an environment of collaboration and sharing of the unique challenges women face in the sector, with a proactive, solutions based approach.
• Develop the capability of participants to promote their abilities/skills.
• Utilise the skills of an assigned mentor to assist in their development.

Guest speakers, from both inside and outside of sport, will be engaged to encourage creative thinking and different perspectives on the challenges faced by women in the workplace.

Participant Deliverables

Participants are required to deliver the following at the completion of the LEAP program:

• A group assignment with other members of the LEAP group

Facilitation

The program will be a combination of facilitation by Mad4Leaders and Vicsport – a perfect blend of theory, experience outside of sport and the translation to the sporting context. Guest speakers will also be included in the program.

Presentations

The program will run for 4 days (as outlined below) and will feature a graduation ceremony at the end with each LEAP participant receiving a certificate for their participation.

Cost and Inclusions

It is highly encouraged that this program be treated as per any request for professional development and is paid for by the employer. This is an investment in the employer’s leadership staff and will directly benefit the organisation as well as the individual.

Through funding from the State Government of Victoria, this high-quality course has been able to be provided at a significantly reduced rate, aiming to be affordable to sport and active recreation organisations. The program costs have been kept to a minimum.

The prices for the 2025 LEAP program are $1200 for Vicsport members and $1500 for non-members.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST APPLICATION FORM

Email

The application process has been developed with your busy schedule in mind – there are six (6) questions to answer and it is anticipated it will take 10 – 15 minutes to complete. The space provided to respond is limited to encourage brief responses (dot points are acceptable). Responses will not be shared outside of the Vicsport CEO and program facilitators to select participants and to adapt the program to your challenges. EOI's close at midnight Friday 6 December 2024.

Should you have any queries, please contact Vicsport CEO Lisa Hasker on 9698 8101 or at lisah@vicsport.com.au.

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Job Title

Organisation

Tertiary qualification(s) achieved

Have you held a management position in sport or active recreation for five (5) years or less?

Are you available to attend all program sessions as outlined above?

Are you committed to completing the required project outside of the session times?

What are some of the challenges you face in your current role that you would like assistance with?

What is your career goal/goals?

Why do you want to participate in this program?

Please provide any additional information to support why you should be selected for this course.

Thank you for your application to Vicsport's 2025 womens professional development program, LEAP.

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