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Community Leadership Program

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About the Community Leadership Program

CYDA is launching a free new Community Leadership Program for neurodivergent young people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Its goal is to provide participants with the tools and skills to build their confidence in self-advocacy and leadership, so they can shine as leaders in their community.

Over the next two years, CYDA will deliver eight programs across South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and online nationally alongside three partner organisations.

These include:

Participation in the program will be free, with online expressions of interest opening soon – so stay tuned!

A speech bubble in LGBTQIA+ rainbow colours. Text inside reads: "Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ youth. Community Leadership Program." Text underneath the speech bubble reads: "Delivered in partnership with..." The logos for CYDA, YDAN, EYDN, and YDAS sit below.

Who is the program for and why?

Nearly five percent of people with disability identify as LGBTQIA+, and up to 70% of Autistic people describe themselves as something other than heterosexual, according to some studies. Roughly six in ten people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are aged between 16 and 34.

However, few leadership programs or resources in Australia are designed to support the many young people who sit at this intersection of neurodivergence and LGBTQIA+ identity. We aim to fill this gap.

The Community Leadership Program is for neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ young people aged 18 to 25.

Neurodivergent is a non-medical, self-identifying, umbrella term that may be used to describe individuals whose mind or functioning falls outside dominant societal norms. It can include Autistic people, and people who have ADHD, dyslexia, or other neurological differences.

Eligibility for this program does not require ‘evidence’ of disability (if you’re self-diagnosed, that’s okay!) and you do not have to be an NDIS participant. Participants must identify as LGBTQIA+, with diverse gender expressions welcome.  

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A photo of two young people sitting at table in a brightly lit conference room. The table is covered in bottles and writing utensils. A rainbow LGBTQIA+ flag can be seen hanging on a wall in the background.

What is involved?

The Community Leadership Program will help participants develop their leadership skills and learn practical strategies to take the next step in their community leadership journey.  

Running from May to December 2026, the first round focuses on five main topics made up of three to five weekly sessions each.

Topics include:

  • Building leadership foundations 
  • Leadership in context  
  • Leadership challenges 
  • Our Community Ecosystem
  • Tools for Leaders 

The free program will run online nationally, and locally in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia through our partners.

Twelve participants will be selected for each state and nationally, with an online expressions of interest process opening soon.

CYDA's leadership programs

The Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ Youth National and Community Leadership Program is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

It continues CYDA’s strong history of supporting young people with disability to develop leadership skills.

From 2020 to 2024, more than 40 disabled young people from across Australia graduated from our series of free National Youth Disability Leadership Programs (also known as the Young Leaders Program).

In 2024 to 2025, CYDA supported Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS), Rights in Action (RIA) and YouthWorX NT to run regional/rural versions of the Young Leaders Program in New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.