Delivering the Tasmanian Women's Leadership Scholarships Grants Program 2026-27

Overview

The Tasmanian Government is committed to advancing gender equality and creating systems that support women’s full participation in all aspects of society.

The Delivering the Tasmanian Women’s Leadership Scholarship Grants Program (the Program) has operated as a one-year delivery model since its inception in 2015.

For 2026, the Program will transition to a two-year delivery model, providing the successful provider with greater stability and sufficient time to design, deliver and evaluate two high-impact leadership development programs.

The Program supports the vision and goals of the Equal means Equal: Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2022 – 2027 (Equal Means Equal Strategy). The Equal Means Equal Strategy’s vision is:

‘for a Tasmania where women and girls have access to equal choice, opportunity and resources to participate in our economic, social, political and community life.

Where gender equality is embedded in our culture, attitudes and practices, recognising the diversity of Tasmanian women and girls.’

The Program contributes to the Equal Means Equal Strategy’s goals of cultural
change, empowerment, and visibility, with outcomes aligned to the focus areas of:

• Economic Security
• Leadership and Participation
• Safety
• Health and Wellbeing.

The Program builds the skills, confidence and resilience of Tasmanian women leaders, especially those working in male-dominated industries. It aims to deliver on the following objectives:

1. Leadership progression: Women build capabilities that support pathways to executive and board roles.
2. Confidence and navigation of male-dominated contexts: Women understand prevailing leadership norms and operate effectively within them.
3. Sustained peer networks: Participants form and maintain networks that support retention and career progression in male-dominated sectors.
4. Employer engagement and value realisation: Employers actively support participants, recognise program value, and encourage broader uptake.
5. Industry leadership activation: Sector leaders in male-dominated industries champion the program and support participants.

Funding Available

A grant of $200,000 over two years (2025-26 and 2026-27) is available to one successful applicant (the provider) to support the delivery of the Program. Provision of funds for 2026-27 is subject to approval of the 2026-27 State Budget.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible organisations include:

• Individuals and/or sole traders
• For profit organisations and businesses:
  • Preference will be given to organisations that demonstrate delivery of strong and measurable public benefit, alignment with community priorities and objectives of the Equal Means Equal Strategy, and reinvest outcomes into the Tasmanian community
• Aboriginal organisations
• An incorporated not-for-profit organisation
• A not-for-profit company registered under company law.

Applicants had to be:

• A Tasmanian presence and the ability to deliver the Program in Tasmania.
• Employees/contractors engaged who have:
  • Undertaken Police checks
  • Registered Working with Vulnerable People (RWVP) Tasmanian registration if participants are under 18
  • Have had no board disqualifications or similar
• Uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against any person in the workplace (including women)
• No perceived or actual conflicts of interest in relation to women who are provided scholarships (no pecuniary interests), i.e. a fair and reasonable process is undertaken to attract interest to potential applicants and no perceived or actual conflicts of interest which affect the supplier’s ability to perform the contract diligently and independently
• Public liability insurance (a copy of your current public liability insurance cover must be included with the application).
• Hold a currently active Australian Business Number (ABN) or, if eligible, provide a Statement by Supplier Form from the Australian Tax Office (ATO).