Confidential Application

The Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Annual Program (AVCLP) has been providing leadership development opportunities for North-East and Border communities since 1998, with an Alumni base of over 500 graduates. Thank you for applying to participate in our 2026 program.

Application Process

• Applications open early August 2025.
• Applications close late September 2025.
• Please complete the web-form application (preferred); or submit hard copy completed application to leaders@avclp.org.au
• Applications will be reviewed by a panel and all applicants will be required to attend an interview.
• Interviews will take place via Zoom in October 2025.
• All applicants will be notified of the outcome in late November 2025.
• The program will commence in February 2026. 
• Successful applicants will be required to attend the Program Launch on Thursday 12th February, and Opening Retreat, scheduled for Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February 2026.

Instructions and Advice for Applicants

• The selection panel uses the criteria detailed in this application. Please read and answer these questions carefully.
• Complete each section in full.
• Type or print all answers clearly.
• Limit answers to available space.
• Applicants must have the full support of the organisation they represent. Applicants without a funding organisation who are seeking a scholarship may nominate themselves.
• All applications are subject to confidential evaluation.
• Attendance at the Opening, Mid-Year, Closing Retreats and Graduation is mandatory. Participants must meet the minimum participation requirements to graduate from the Program.
• For each Program intake, a diverse mix of multicultural, indigenous, ethnic, and religious, gender, location, private/public, and profit/non-profit sector participants are sought. The Program is committed to selecting candidates that represent communities from across the entire region.
• Given the time commitments required to complete AVCLP, and to be fair to the individual, their employer, and their families, it is unlikely that the panel will select an applicant who is also enrolled in other tertiary studies.
• Offers in the program will be made in late November. Program fees are to be paid in January, prior to commencement of the program, unless other arrangements are made.

NOTE: AVCLP is highly regarded, and places are sought after. Suitable applicants may not be chosen due to size restrictions, unavailability of a scholarship, and the need for diversity in group composition. Therefore, individuals not selected are strongly encouraged to reapply in subsequent years.
 
For questions regarding the application process, please contact the Program Manager, Irene Pritchard via leaders@avclp.org.au or Executive Officer, Madeline Hines via eo@avclp.org.au

Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Annual Program Application

Contact Details

Inclusion & Accessibility

AVCL endorses equal opportunity in participating in the Annual Program; we provide the same benefits and opportunities to all applicants, without discriminating due to protected characteristics such as age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, and medical history. AVCL aims to promote participation in the program on an equitable basis, and will accommodate any participants as necessary to ensure their inclusion in the program. The following questions are included to help support inclusive participation within the program, and may be used in deidentified statistical reporting:

AVCL Fund Ltd is an ACNC registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, through which we raise funds to support scholarship opportunities for participants who are experiencing disadvantage within the community, or who may be suffering from discrimination and social isolation, including those from indigenous, ethnic or LGBTQI backgrounds.

The below questions are asked to ensure scholarship funds raised by AVCL Fund Ltd are allocated to qualifying participants in line with our established purpose. Note that through our diverse funding streams, other scholarships are available for participants who are not experiencing disadvantage or suffering from discrimination and social isolation. 

Disadvantage can include: People living with a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition; Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people; identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; is a member of a minority group or community including LGBTIQA; is experiencing socio-economic barriers that include financial disadvantage, including concession or health-care card holders; are long-term unemployed; or experiencing disadvantage due to specifically identified scenarios, including the impact of a natural disaster, such as bushfires or floods.

Employment Information

Employment Experience

List relevant employers within last ten years, starting with your most recent employment.

Education

Provide details of any relevant qualifications, professional development or leadership courses including units you have recently completed via employment, study and/or volunteer work.

Your Leadership Journey

Community Activities and Organisations

Vision for the Region

References

Funding Information

Fees for the 2025 Annual Program are made up of:

• Participant contribution of $1,000 plus GST ($1,100)
• Funding from your sponsoring organisation (workplace, member organisation/group) or through a scholarship, for the amount of:
  1. $6,000 (where possible, these placements will be co-funded with a further $3,000 as raised through other scholarships) or
  2. $9,000 (fully funded, no co-funding required)

If you are being supported by your workplace, please speak with your Manager or relevant departmental head to clarify if they are intending to support your placement at the rate of $6,000 or $9,000. Further information as to the details of the different funding tiers can be found on our website: https://bit.ly/Prospectus2025

Please indicate your sponsorship arrangements:

And (select the option relevant to your situation): REQUIRED*

Please note: Our payment terms are 30 days from invoicing, and must be made before commencement of the program, unless other arrangements with the Program Manager are made. Course refunds will not be available within 7 days of commencement of Opening Retreat.

Sponsor Information

If you are being supported by your workplace or other organisation, please complete the following section. If you are seeking a scholarship, please skip this section. By completing this section, you confirm you are authorised to do so on behalf of your organisation and have their pre-agreement for the funding commitment.

Applicant Commitment 

Acceptance into the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program is sought after, and competitive. We are only able to accept applicants who have considered the time commitment necessary for the successful completion of the Program and are willing to commit this time.

To graduate from the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program, the following is required:

• A minimum of 80% of the Program days must be attended. 

This involves:

• Attendance at 15 Program days spread across the region, including: 
  • Launch event
  • Two overnight retreats, that are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays.
  • A multi-day Study Tour in Melbourne, with accommodation available from the Sunday night, with the tour itself being overnight on Monday and concluding on Tuesday.
  • 12 single days, generally on a Friday at locations around the region.
  • Attendance at Graduation/end of year celebration event (week night).

Mobilisation Activity:  

As part of the 2025 program, participants will be mobilised through a team-based activity. This activity will require a small amount of time outside of annual program days, and could include team meetings, and undertaking your activity.