AN INVITATION TO ASPIRING BOARD DIRECTORS 

The Observership Program 2027  

– Pathway to board directorship for People with Disabilities

The Observership Program pairs talented emerging leaders with not-for-profit and government boards across Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane for a 12-month period. Observers gain practical boardroom experience while participating in a comprehensive governance training program supported by Program partners; the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre.  

Working with Disability Sector partners, we offer an accessible Program for professionals to gain valuable board experience and governance training. Observers gain practical boardroom experience while participating in a comprehensive governance training program supported by Program partners; The Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre. 

The Program’s participating boards are seeking candidates aged 25-45* with professional skills and who are People with Disabilities, to learn about and contribute to board work. We also invite your organisation to nominate professionals who are People with Disabilities, for the opportunity to be a board observer.

* The Observership Program has extended the candidate age criteria for candidates who are People with Disabilities.

 Applications open 22 June 2026

How The Observership Program supports candidates and Observers who are People with Disabilities. 

The Observership Program is committed to ensure any environment, employment or service opportunity is inclusive of people with disabilities.  

• Provide adjustments/access requirements including accessible documentation and collateral for candidates and Observers 
• All participating boards are provided with a tool kit of materials and resources to enable them to support candidates and Observers who are People with Disabilities, during the interviewing, matching and hosting periods. Including: 
• A Confidence with Disability training session has been filmed and distributed to all participating boards. 
• Accessibility Checklist for hosting People who are People with Disabilities, which relates to adjustments/access requirements and other support on offer. 
• Guidelines for running Accessible Board Meetings. 
• AusDN’s newly published accessibility guide for Board Directors 
• Designing training sessions that work for all learning styles and needs
• Creating a more inclusive and accessible experience for everyone involved

The Observership Program is committed to creating an inclusive experience for all participants. Sharing information about adjustments/access requirements including those that may not traditionally classify as disability accommodations.

Here are some examples: wheelchair access, advance materials, digital participation options, sensory space, support animal and specific communication preferences.  A complete list of adjustments/access requirements that we currently provide to applicants, candidates and Observers can be found here.

Accessible documentation and collateral
We have an accessible website (work is underway to ensure all areas of the website is accessible) and the application platform meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 to at least a level AA compliance. 

• An accessible copy of the 2027 Sample Application form 
• An accessible copy of the FAQs.
• An accessible copy of the 2026 Handbook.
• An accessible copy of our Terms and Conditions 
• Emails and invitations are accessible. 
• An accessible video of details of the Program and support on offer for people with disabilities – [in progress,  The Observership Program and Caroline Bowditch to confirm title of video] 
• An accessible video ‘An introduction to The Observership Program’. 
• An accessible video explaining ‘Tips and hints for Successful Applications’. 

 Applications open 22 June 2026

Please refer to the FAQs, 2027 sample application, 2026 Program Handbook and watch the videos above.
Should you require further information, please contact:

Victorian Program:
Danni Zhang, Operations Lead (maternity cover), The Observership Program, Victoria, danni.zhang@observership.com.au

Sydney and Brisbane Programs:
Rachel Exton, NSW and Brisbane Program Lead, rachel.exton@observership.com.au

Accessibility Statement
The Observership Program is committed to ensuring user experience and accessibility for people with disability. We will continue to evolve and improve the accessibility of our Program by listening and learning from people with lived experience of disability.