Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation offers the Lowitja O'Donoghue Excellence in Leadership - Public Sector Scholarshipas the prestigious inaugural initiative of its new Leadership program.

Distinct from a traditional academic scholarship, this initiative provides funding for each successful recipient to co-design a personalised 12-month leadership pathway plan with the Foundation. This may include options such as mentoring, executive and governance training, and conference and exchange opportunities.

To support broad national representation and strengthen diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership across Australia, strong preference will be given to applicants from rural and remote communities, applicants residing in states and territories that are underrepresented in the applicant pool, and female; and female identifying and non-binary applicants. In the event of a high concentration of applications from any one jurisdiction, the Foundation may consider geographic and gender diversity when determining the final scholarship recipients.

Value:  The national scholarship awards three recipients up to $50,000 each (excluding GST) for a co-designed, personalised 12-month leadership pathway plan

To apply, you must:

• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander professional with substantial Public Sector experience currently employed or recently between roles
• be working (or have recently worked) in Health, Aboriginal Affairs, Education, or Human Services, within the Commonwealth, State/territory, or local government, a statutory authority, or a government-funded agency
• be seeking leadership development rather than a formal academic qualification, and if your application is successful, be willing to co-design a personalised 12- month leadership pathway plan with the Foundation
• have the capacity to undertake and complete the scholarship over the 12-month period if successful and expend scholarship funding in full before 30 June 2027
• have no outstanding reports, acquittals, or serious breaches related to any previous funding from the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation and/or Lowitja Institute read and agree to the scholarship Terms and Conditions
• provide an Employer release Form signed by your current employer/manager.

• Email: foundationscholarships@lowitja.org.au