Deadline: 11 January 2017
Applications are now open for the Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Program (A2ELP), designed to create meaningful people to people links between entrepreneurs across Asia.
The focus of the program this year will be in the social impact space. The program will bring together ten social entrepreneurs from South-East Asia and five from Australia to take part in a series of innovative learning and development opportunities in 2017.
The program is designed for individuals who have up to 2/3 years of experience working in organisations that generate social impact. The program is looking for applicants with proposals to expand a social enterprise or create a new social venture. Participation in this program is fully funded, including travel and accommodation in Australia.
Program Details
The program will be delivered in three phases:
- Pre-departure preparation
Following a competitive application process in January 2017, virtual meetings will be convened with program participants. These sessions are designed to introduce participants to each other, provide online learning materials and brief participants on program content, expectations, travel preparations, visa applications and customs requirements. Participants will submit a video at the conclusion of pre-departure training which pitches their social venture proposal. - Intensive training in Australia
Participants will travel to Melbourne and Sydney for an eight-day program in March 2017, where they will take part in a range of workshops, site visits, masterclasses, peer learning sessions and networking events. Participants will refine their proposal using the skills developed through these activities and present the final version to the Australia-ASEAN Council Board in Sydney. - Implementation and ongoing network
Following the program, proposals will be circulated to social venture leaders and program partners to seed potential ideas for collaboration. Participants will be invited to form smaller interest-based groups and will receive regular check-ins and invites to selected activities in the region, including Asialink and DFAT-sponsored dialogues and networking events.
Program Benefits
Over a four-month period, participants will:
- build knowledge of scalable business models to create long term social impact
- develop skills to engage a range of stakeholders, including pitches to potential investors
- receive training in cultural intelligence, lean start-up methodology and impact gaps canvas
- participate in networking events, including visits to innovative social ventures in Australia
- discuss the latest thinking and ideas in social impact with academic experts and industry leaders
- foster professional connections with participants through peer mentoring exercises and alumni engagement
Eligibility Criteria
Program participants will need to meet the following criteria:
- a medium to high level of English language capability
- aged between 25-35
- at least two years’ experience working in a social venture or related organisation
- able to travel to Australia for eight days to participate in the program, with additional time for pre-departure preparation and post-program engagement
- actively interested in Australia-South East Asia and how interaction with peers from across the region would enhance their professional and personal development
- awareness of challenges in their entrepreneurial area which can be explored during the program
- access to required technology to film and submit short videos during the application, pre-departure preparation and program delivery processes
- a social venture idea which is scale-able
- able to both contribute to and benefit from the program
- able to provide two referees (one professional, one character)
How to Apply
Applicants must submit all the application documents in a prescribed format online via given website.
Eligible Countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
For more information, please visit Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Program.