About the Directing Change Scholarship
The Directing Change Scholarship is a three-year (2022-2024) educational program that creates a unique pathway for aspiring leaders with disability to join company boards.
The program prepares leaders with disability for directorship roles and builds the disability confidence and diversity of Australian boards.
Together with a governance course from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, participants receive an eight-month tailored mentoring program that matches them with experienced board members which has a twofold impact:
- the participants receive practical and relevant guidance and creates new networks
- the director i.e. mentor, is exposed to the challenges and barriers persons with disabilities face joining a company board.
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
- Download the transcript for Episode 1: About this guide (Word, 593 KB)
- Download the transcript for Episode 2: Education and Awareness (Word, 595 KB)
- Download the transcript for Episode 3: Adjustments (Word,596 KB)
- Download the transcript for Episode 4: Culture and Communication ( Word, 602 KB)
- Download the transcript for Episode 5: Recruitment (Word, 598 KB)
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.
- Director Briefing 1 – Speakers: Jane Spring, Alan Hough and Amber O’Shea
- Director Briefing 2 – Speakers: Graeme Innes AM, Alan Hough and Isabel Heiner
- Director Briefing 3 – Speakers: Darren Fittler, Caro Llewelyn and Amber O’Shea
- Director Briefing 4 – Speakers: Tony Clark, Alan Hough and Sharon Kumar
- Director Briefing 5 – Speakers: Peter Wilson AM, Donna Purcell and Sharon Kumar
- Director Briefing 6 – Speakers: Graeme Innes AM, Alice Anderson (alumni) and Dr Catherine Maitland