Applications Now Open: 2026 Risk-Based Leadership™ Development Program Scholarships
- Jessica Urquhart
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
Applications are now open for the 2026 Risk-Based Leadership™ Development Program, with four fully funded scholarship places available for emerging and underrepresented leaders.
Access to quality leadership development should not depend on where you work, what sector you are in, or whether your organisation has the budget to invest in your growth. Too many capable, committed leaders are carrying significant responsibility without the formal development to match.
That is why we are making four fully funded places available in the 2026 Risk-Based Leadership™ Development Program - one for each of the scholarship categories below.
Applications close 30 April 2026. Places are limited and assessed competitively.
About the Program
The Risk-Based Leadership™ Development Program is a six-month program designed for supervisors, team leaders and operational managers working in complex, high-risk environments. It is built around the Risk-Based Leadership™ Model - a practical framework developed by risk and incident investigation professionals with experience across mining, infrastructure, government and other high-risk industries.
Over 12 structured training days, participants develop the capability to:
• Recognise early indicators of operational risk before incidents occur
• Make confident and defensible decisions under pressure
• Lead teams through uncertainty and organisational change
• Manage contractors, projects and critical risks effectively
• Respond with confidence during incidents and crisis events
The program is delivered face-to-face across Australia as well as online for participants who cannot attend in person. The next cohort commences July 2026.
The Four Scholarship Categories
Each scholarship provides a fully funded place in the program, valued at $4,500. One scholarship is available in each of the following categories.
1. Health and Emergency Services Leadership Scholarship
This scholarship supports leaders working in healthcare, emergency response, ambulance, fire, rescue or frontline services. If you manage teams in high-pressure environments where operational risk decisions are made under time pressure and with significant consequences, this scholarship is for you.
2. Regional and Remote Leadership Scholarship
This scholarship supports leaders working in regional or remote communities who carry significant operational responsibilities but often have limited access to quality leadership development. Geography should not be a barrier to professional growth, and this scholarship is our commitment to that principle.
3. Care and Support Sector Scholarship
This scholarship supports leaders working in aged care, disability services and community support organisations. Leaders in these settings are responsible for managing complex risk and protecting vulnerable people, often with fewer formal leadership development resources available to them than leaders in higher-profile industries.
4. Young Operational Leader Scholarship (35 years and under)
This scholarship supports emerging supervisors, team leaders and operational managers early in their leadership journey. If you are 35 or under and are already responsible for decisions that impact the safety, risk and outcomes of a team or operation, we want to invest in your development.
How to Apply
Applications are assessed competitively. To apply, submit the following:
1. Your name, organisation and current leadership role
2. Which scholarship category you are applying for
3. Your preferred cohort location and dates
4. A short statement of 200–300 words explaining why you would benefit from the program, the leadership challenges you face in your current role, and how the program will help you better support your team or organisation
5. Optional: a nomination from a colleague, manager or mentor supporting your application
Successful scholarship recipients will be notified prior to the commencement of the July 2026 cohort.
Don't Wait - Places Are Limited
Each scholarship category has one available place. Applications close 30 April 2026 and are assessed on the strength of your written statement and the fit between your circumstances and the program's purpose.
If you are a leader who is ready to develop, and you work in one of the eligible sectors, we encourage you to apply. Feel free to share this opportunity with someone you think would benefit.
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