Directing Change Scholarship

About the Directing Change Scholarship

The Directing Change Scholarship is a ground-breaking pilot program designed to increase the representation of people with disability on boards.

Funded through an anonymous philanthropic trust, the program ran from 2022 to 2024, supporting 54 leaders with disability to strengthen their governance skills through the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ programs, including the Company Directors Course.

A key feature of the scholarship is an intensive eight-month mentoring program delivered by Australian Disability Network. Participants are paired with experienced board directors, creating a two-way learning experience that:

Builds awareness, confidence, and capability among directors to include people with disability on boards.
Enhances the leadership and governance skills of scholars, opening pathways to directorship opportunities.

In 2023, the Scholarship received international recognition, winning a prestigious award at the Zero Project for its innovative approach to promoting disability inclusion in governance.

As part of this pilot, we’ve developed practical resources to drive real change, including a comprehensive guide for directors (Interactive PDF, 3 MB) on fostering accessibility in boardrooms.

Over three years, we’ve also hosted six thought-provoking briefings, sparking critical conversations about disability inclusion at the board level.

This program is more than a scholarship—it’s a commitment to transforming boardrooms, empowering people with disability, and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making at the highest level.

A Director’s guide: Improving Access and Inclusion in the boardroom

The Australian Disability Network Director’s Guide is designed to support boards to become more accessible and inclusive.

This guide has been developed as part of the initiatives under the Directing Change Scholarship Program.

Directors in Australia recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion, yet people with disability remain significantly underrepresented on most boards.

This guide offers actionable steps to change that by focusing on disability inclusion. Implementing robust processes will help your board create an environment that welcomes directors with disability and champion inclusivity across your organisation.

With insights from directors who have lived experience of disability, let’s work together to make Australia’s boards more inclusive.

Download Australian Disability Network’s Director Guide (Interactive PDF, 3 MB)

A Director’s Guide – Podcast

You can also listen to our five-part podcast on improving access and inclusion in the boardroom. The transcripts are in the section below.

Transcripts

Unlock the Power of Inclusive Leadership: Director Briefings Series

Over the past three years, we’ve delivered a dynamic series of six Director Briefings, designed to equip Australian company directors with the knowledge and confidence to lead inclusively. Each briefing dives into crucial topics that build the business case for disability inclusion, with insights on:

The business case for inclusion
Running truly accessible meetings
Developing clear and accessible reports
Recruiting directors with disabilities
Busting common misconceptions
Implementing workplace adjustments that work

These sessions feature directors with lived experience, sharing their personal journeys and the tangible benefits of embracing inclusion at the board level.

Watch the briefings below and discover how your organisation can thrive by championing accessibility and inclusion.

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