Disability Service Provider Boards

LEAD THE CHANGE: AN INVITATION 

Help transform Australia’s boardrooms while strengthening your own. 

The Observership Program invites Disability Service Providers (DSPs) committed to supporting people who are People with Disabilities into board roles to join our 2027 Program. We are expanding our network of DSP host boards for the 2027 Program and are keen to hear from you.   

Working in collaboration with Disability Sector partners, we offer an inclusive and accessible Program as a pathway to directorship for professionals who are People with Disabilities, to gain valuable governance experience and training. 

The Program’s participating boards are seeking candidates aged 25-45 with professional skills, lived experience and emotional intelligence to contribute to board work.  

 

THREE WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAM: 

1. Draw from the Program’s talented pool of applicants who are People with Disabilities. Access professional skills and experience and fresh, diverse perspectives to enrich board discussions.
2. Nominate a person who are People with Disabilities from within your network. Develop someone with potential for a future board appointment. Click here for applicant details.
3. Nominate a newly appointed board member. Underpin the appointment with 12 governance training sessions and a supportive network of like-minded leaders

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR BOARD FOR THE 2027 PROGRAM 

 

 2027 PROGRAM KEY DATES    

                                                       New Host Boards onboarded:       Until 30 September 2026 

                                                       Observer matching process:            October – December 2026

                                                       Program Launch:                               February 2027 

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’. 

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR BOARD FOR THE 2027 PROGRAM 

 

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.