A Leadership Immersion Program to address the under-representation of young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds in leadership roles.
CMY recognises the enormous leadership experience and potential in the young women we work with. However, while people from refugee and migrant backgrounds make up almost half of all university graduates, the Human Rights Commission reports that only 5% of these graduates will eventually be appointed to leadership roles in Australia.
The Seat at the Table program aims to address the under representation of young women in governance and leadership positions. Young women are placed with a Board/Committee to observe governance structures and are provided with Leadership and Governance Training to support their observership. This program offers young women real-life experience in and exposure to the world of leadership, strategic planning and decision making in business.
Seat at the Table – National program 2022/2023
Funded by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women, CMY successfully delivered a pilot Seat at the Table program to young women in Victoria in 2022. In 2023, we expanded the program nationally to work with young women across four states and territories – Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia. We currently have 60 young women in the program observing on Boards/Committees and undergoing Leadership and Governance Training. We are very grateful to our program partners at MYAN and our funders for making this program possible.
Seat at the Table – Victorian Expansion Program 2023
Through the success of the National Seat at the Table program, we have been fortunate to receive additional funding from the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to expand the Seat at the Table program in Victoria.
The Victorian Expansion program will provide young women with Board observership placements on Victorian Government Boards/Committees. This program will be delivered from July to December 2023 to an additional 40 young women in Victoria.
Applications for the Victorian Expansion Program are now closed.
If you’re a young woman interested in the Victorian Expansion Program
Visit our SAT – Young Women’s page for more info and to apply.
Why are we doing this?
CMY recognises the enormous leadership experience and potential in the young women we work with. We see it every day in our advocacy and development programs. But their leadership is far too often outside traditional leadership and governance structures where we know many important decisions are made. As a result, the CMY Board are committed to providing an opportunity for young women to build their skills and capacity, whilst acknowledging the unique challenges society places on them to take up these roles.
Although Australia has seen a substantial increase in the percentage of Board positions filled by women in the last five years, representation in traditionally male-dominated industries is still significantly lower. Moreover, while people from refugee and migrant backgrounds make up almost half of all university graduates, the Human Rights Commission reports that only 5% of these graduates will eventually be appointed to leadership roles in Australia.
Such figures paint a stark picture for young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds who face additional challenges in pursuing their leadership aspirations compared with their peers. Research and CMY’s experience tells us that young women are eager to take on more formal leadership opportunities, however there is a need for culturally responsive and accessible programs to encourage and prepare young women in leadership and governance.
To discuss if this is the right opportunity for you, contact:
Zanna Moran | Senior Project Officer
E | zmoran@cmy.net.au
P | (03) 7065 6621