Young Leaders Programs
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About the regional/rural Young Leaders Programs
From 2020 to 2024, CYDA ran a series of free National Youth Disability Leadership Programs (also called the “Young Leaders Program” for short). The Young Leaders Program was for young people with disability from anywhere in Australia.
We are now working with Regional Disability Advocacy Service in Wagga Wagga, Rights in Action in Cairns, and YouthworX NT in Darwin, supporting them to run regional/rural versions of the Young Leaders Program.
Each organisation has worked with CYDA to co-design adaptations to the program. This means that each Young Leaders Program will be more aligned with the goals and interests of young people in each region.
The regional/rural Young Leaders Programs will run from September 2024. Applications are open now!
In a Young Leaders Program, you can ...
- develop your personal goals and values
- gain new knowledge about leadership and leadership skills
- learn about disability rights, community, advocacy and how to make change
- get to know other young disabled people who want to be leaders
- connect with, and learn from, leaders who are already making change in the sector
I don’t have leadership experience. Can I join a Young Leaders Program?
The Young Leaders Programs are for young disabled people who want to become leaders in the future. You don’t need to have lots of experience with leadership to take part. If you want to be a leader, this program is for you!
Young Leaders Programs support young people with disability to achieve their own leadership goals, skills and interests, whatever they may be!
People with all kinds of disability are welcome
This includes people with:
- neurodivergence
- mental illness
- intellectual disability
- chronic illness
- sensory disability
- physical disability
- any other kind of disability
You do not need to have a medical diagnosis to be part of the Young Leaders Program.
Looking for a Victorian-based leadership program?
Our friends at Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) run a Young Leaders Program in Victoria.
Their free online leadership program is for young Victorians who identify as having a disability, chronic illness, being blind or vision impaired, being Deaf, neurodiverse and/or having lived experience of mental health issues.
This program is great for people just getting started in leadership. There are two cohorts; one for young people aged 14 – 19 years old, and the other for young people aged 20 – 25 years old.
