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This program offers First Nations leaders and directors the opportunity to enrich their understanding of organisational governance as they shape the future from the boardroom.
DETAILS AT A GLANCE
Applications open: Monday 14 July 2025 |
Applications close: Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:59pm (AWST) |
Applicant profile: First Nations leaders and directors |
Directorship stage: Aspiring, new and experienced leaders |
- Overview
- Foundations of Directorship™
- Company Directors Course™
- The Observership Program
Delivered in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) and The Observership Program, each scholarship runs for 12 months and includes:
- enrolment into either:
- Foundations of Directorship™ for Indigenous organisations
- Company Directors Course™ for Indigenous business leaders; or
- The Observership Program
- an AIGI-run workshop exploring excellence in Indigenous governance plus facilitated mentoring by connecting scholars with experienced Indigenous directors
- travel reimbursements and accommodation
- 12-months’ AICD membership
Explore the tabs above to help you choose the course or program that’s right for you.
Up to 46 scholarships are available in this final round of the program funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
Foundations of Directorship for Indigenous organisations
This course offers foundational knowledge on governance, finance, strategy and risk as well as the duties and responsibilities of boards and directors.
Indigenous customisation is provided through facilitation, case studies, presentations and appendices. Expert facilitation is delivered by company directors with Indigenous organisation experience.
Foundations of Directorship™ covers the key areas you need to be across as a board director, including sessions on board duties, meeting processes, finance, risk and strategy.
Focusing on Indigenous organisations, this course provides Indigenous facilitation and sector-specific case studies.
After a 4-week pre-reading period, the course content is delivered in three full-day sessions. This is then followed by assessments to be completed within a 3-month period.
You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion for attending all three sessions and successfully completing the assessment tasks.
Best suited to:
- Newly appointed directors
- Leaders who are interested in pursuing a directorship career
- Executives and managers who would like a better understanding of board processes
As well as the course itself, each scholarship includes travel reimbursements and accommodation to attend the in-person sessions and workshops.
The course content is delivered in three full-day sessions, which you will need to attend in person.
The sessions are expected to take place in February 2026.
Company Directors Course for Indigenous business leaders
This course is essential learning for experienced directors and business owners seeking to elevate their career and establish themselves as a trusted board member.
Indigenous customisation is provided through facilitation, case studies, presentations and appendices. Expert facilitation is delivered by company directors with Indigenous organisation experience.
For 50 years, the Company Directors Course™ has been considered the gold standard in governance education.
Catering to Indigenous business leaders, this course provides Indigenous facilitation and sector-specific case studies.
After a 6-week pre-reading period, the course content is delivered in five consecutive days. This is then followed by assessments to be completed within a 3-month period.
You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion for attending all five sessions. AICD members who also successfully complete the assessment tasks will earn the prestigious GAICD post-nominals.
Best suited to:
- Experienced directors or business owners
- Leaders who have previously completed the Foundations of Directorship™ course or have equivalent professional experience
- Leaders seeking to establish themselves as a trusted board member
As well as the course itself, each scholarship includes travel reimbursements and accommodation to attend the in-person sessions and workshops.
The course content is delivered in five consecutive days, which you will need to attend in person.
The sessions are expected to take place in March 2026.
The Observership Program
This structured, highly practical program gives promising individuals the opportunity to observe the governance of an organisation from the inside.
The Observership Program kicks off from January 2026.
This program gives talented and energetic individuals first-hand governance experience by being matched with an organisation for 12 months and attending all board and/or committee meetings as non-voting members.
Designed to support the development of the next generation of leaders in Australia, this program is suitable for:
- Australian citizens or permanent residents
- those with availability to attend all board meetings and training sessions
You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion for completing the program. If you complete at least 85% of the program’s AICD components, you will receive a Certificate of Learning.
If your Observer placement is successful, you may be offered a permanent seat on the board.
To give you an idea of the commitment required for The Observership Program, below are some of the requirements that applicants should be prepared for.
- Availability for around 4 to 11 meetings throughout the year. These meetings can vary from 2 hours to a whole day.
- 2 to 4 hours of pre-reading before each meeting.
- Observers may also be asked to join additional meetings, such as committee meetings and Strategy & Planning days, which may be held after 5pm or on weekends.
- Mandatory attendance of up to 10 training sessions during the year, held in-person or online.
- Additionally, approximately 33 hours of professional development will be provided by The Observership Program.
The real-world impact of scholarships
Check your eligibility
Applications are open to both AICD members and non-members.
To be eligible, you must:
- be a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- be accepted as such by the community in which you live;
- be currently sitting as a director on a board OR currently sitting on a committee with aspirations of becoming a director;
- be supported by a senior government officer, company director/CEO or First Nations leader as having the potential or prospects to transition to a senior leadership position (and provide a completed Support Form);
- be aged 18 years old or over;
- be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident;
- never have been disqualified from being a director of a corporation or organisation;
- agree to the scholarship timings and commitments (including course attendance) outlined in the tabs above; and
- meet the pre-requisites required for your preferred course or program.
Tracey Hough MAICD, proud Mithaka / Gangalidda / Barkandji / Malyangapa woman, Director of Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and a recipient of a First Nations, Director Scholarship in 2025
Ready to apply?
Simply follow the steps below to apply for the scholarship. Applications close on Sunday 7 September at 11:59pm (AWST). Please note: We are unable to accept late applications. Applicants will be notified by the end of October 2025.
STEP 1: ASSESS your eligibility
Check that you meet the eligibility criteria listed above. If you have any questions, please contact us using the enquiry link below.
STEP 2: choose a course or program
Explore the details and timings of Foundations of Directorship™, the Company Directors Course™ and The Observership Program, and choose the one that best suits your needs and availability.
STEP 3: prepare your support form
Scholarship applications must include a completed Support Form signed by the Chair/Board Member/CEO of your organisation or Officer with authority to sign on behalf of the Board and/or CEO.
STEP 4: complete your application
Once you’re ready to apply, select Apply Now to be directed to the Good Grants platform. Create an account, complete the online application form, upload your completed Support Form and submit your application.
Join a virtual info session
If you’re interested in applying for this scholarship or have any questions, you’re welcome to attend one of our virtual information sessions.
Please register for a session below:
Our valued partners
The First Nations Director Scholarship is funded by the National Indigenous Australian Agency (NIAA) and delivered in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) and The Observership Program.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we are located and pay our respects to Elders, past and present. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.
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