WELA Scholarships

Offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships to WELA's National Leadership Program.

WELA’s National Leadership Program is for women and gender diverse changemakers who want to accelerate positive transformation for our environment and climate.

Open to those working (paid or unpaid) for our environment or climate in non-profits, government, business, or as volunteers, participants are selected for their potential and diverse contributions nationwide.

In 2026, the National Leadership Program is celebrating its 10th year — a decade of building the capacity of courageous, values-driven women and gender-diverse leaders to transform Australia’s environment and climate movements.

Since 2016, more than 230 alumni from over 130 organisations have stepped into leadership roles across organisations, campaigns, government, and community movements. They’ve led and won campaigns to end native forest logging in Victoria and Western Australia, been elected to Parliament, stopped new coal mines, and secured landmark legal victories for nature and climate.

The WELA program increases participants’ capacity to lead in the environment, climate and social change movements by:
- Understanding and addressing the barriers to women’s and diverse leadership – addressing personal limiting beliefs, organisational and movement dynamics and broader societal forces
- Developing skills and confidence to undertake personal, organisational and systemic change
- Weaving in First Nations knowledge systems and learning to place caring for Country and culture at the core of your work
- Building a supportive community and network that fosters connection, collaboration and collective action
- Accessing tools, strategies and resources to inspire active hope, process collective grief and boost emotional wellbeing
- Validating your unique leadership style, grounded in personal values, strengths and a vision for meaningful action.

Scholarships available to attend the program:
- WELA General Support and Help
- Dr Deb Foskey Fund
- WELA First Nations Scholarship
- Natural Resources Conservation Trust
- Wettenhall Environment Trust scholarship
- Merri-bek Council Community Scholarship
- Rendere Environment Trust scholarship
- Maribyrnong Council Community Scholarship
- Sinead Francis-Coan Scholarship.

Please refer to the funding provider's website for information regarding each scholarship.

Offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships to WELA’s National Leadership Program.

WELA’s National Leadership Program is for women and gender diverse changemakers who want to accelerate positive transformation for our environment and climate.