Submit Applications for Leadership Skills Workshops (Australia)

The Creative Australia leadership skills workshops support mid-career and established leaders working in Australian arts and culture organisations to strengthen practical leadership capabilities. The two-day, in-person workshops focus on board and funder relationships, crisis management, strategic decision-making, and building shared leadership cultures, with additional access support available for d/Deaf and/or disabled leaders.

About the Creative Australia Leadership Workshops

Creative Australia is offering professional development opportunities for leaders working in Australia’s arts and culture sector.

The program is designed for leaders who already manage teams and have significant responsibility within their organisations. Rather than focusing only on theoretical leadership concepts, the workshops use practical tools and evidence-based leadership models that participants can apply directly in their workplaces.

The training is delivered through a two-day, in-person workshop.

What the Workshop Covers

Participants explore practical challenges commonly faced by arts and culture leaders.

Key areas include:

Working effectively with boards.
Managing relationships with funders.
Crisis management and response.
Strategic decision-making.
Developing organisational leadership strategies.
Building shared leadership cultures.
Addressing current leadership challenges.
Applying leadership tools directly within an organisation.

The workshop also includes breakout sessions designed around participants’ current leadership situations.

This approach allows participants to work through real organisational challenges rather than relying solely on hypothetical examples.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility is limited to individuals who meet the program’s employment, leadership, and organisational requirements.

Applicants must:

Work at least 0.5 FTE in an Australian arts and culture organisation.
Manage a team of at least two staff members.
Work for an organisation with annual turnover of less than $40 million.
Work for an organisation receiving less than $5 million annually from Creative Australia.
Be able to attend the entire two-day workshop in person.

Only one participant per organisation can attend.

Support for d/Deaf and Disabled Leaders

Creative Australia provides additional support to help ensure equitable participation.

Up to $1,000 AUD is available for additional access costs for d/Deaf and/or disabled leaders.

Eligible access-related expenses may include:

Support workers.
Transport.
Other agreed additional access requirements.

Creative Australia will also cover agreed access services such as:

Auslan interpreting.
Captioning.

Applicants who require access support should identify their needs as part of the relevant application or participation process.

Why the Leadership Program Matters

Arts and culture organisations operate in an environment that requires leaders to balance artistic goals, financial sustainability, governance, community expectations, funding requirements, and organisational wellbeing.

The workshop helps leaders develop practical skills for managing these responsibilities.

Participants can strengthen their ability to:

Make informed strategic decisions.
Communicate effectively with boards.
Work constructively with funders.
Respond to organisational crises.
Lead teams through change.
Share leadership responsibilities across an organisation.
Apply practical leadership frameworks to real workplace situations.

How the Workshop Works

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should first verify that they meet all employment and organisational requirements.

This includes confirming their FTE status, team-management responsibilities, organisational turnover, and Creative Australia funding level.

Step 2: Identify Leadership Challenges

Participants should consider the leadership issues they currently face.

These may relate to:

Governance.
Funding.
Organisational strategy.
Crisis response.
Team management.
Leadership culture.

Identifying these challenges helps participants get greater value from the workshop’s practical exercises and breakout discussions.

Step 3: Arrange Access Requirements

d/Deaf and/or disabled participants should identify any additional access requirements they need to participate fully.

Creative Australia can provide agreed services such as Auslan interpreting and captioning, while up to $1,000 is available for eligible additional access costs.

Step 4: Commit to Full Attendance

The program requires participants to attend the complete two-day workshop in person.

Applicants should therefore ensure they can commit to both days before applying.

Step 5: Apply Through the Relevant Creative Australia Process

Eligible leaders should submit the required information through the designated Creative Australia application or participation process.

Only one person from each organisation should be nominated.

Key Requirements at a Glance

Provider: Creative Australia
Target group: Mid-career and established arts and culture leaders
Location: Australia
Format: Two-day, in-person workshop
Minimum employment: 0.5 FTE
Management requirement: Manage at least two staff
Organisation turnover: Under $40 million annually
Creative Australia funding: Less than $5 million annually
Participation limit: One person per organisation
Attendance: Full two-day participation required
Additional access support: Up to $1,000 AUD
Covered access services: Agreed services such as Auslan interpreting and captioning

Tips for Applicants

Applicants should consider the following before participating:

Confirm organisational eligibility: Check both annual turnover and Creative Australia funding levels.
Check your leadership role: You must manage at least two staff members.
Plan for the full workshop: Make sure your schedule allows attendance across both days.
Prepare real examples: Think about current leadership challenges you could explore during breakout sessions.
Identify access requirements early: This allows appropriate support to be arranged.
Focus on practical application: Consider which leadership tools could be implemented in your organisation after the workshop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying when their organisation exceeds the turnover threshold.
Working less than the required 0.5 FTE.
Managing fewer than two staff members.
Nominating more than one participant from the same organisation.
Assuming the workshop can be attended partially or remotely.
Failing to communicate access requirements.
Treating the workshop as purely theoretical rather than preparing to apply the learning to real organisational challenges.

FAQ

Who is the Creative Australia leadership workshop for?

The workshop is designed for mid-career and established leaders working in Australian arts and culture organisations who meet the program’s employment and management requirements.

How long is the workshop?

The leadership workshop takes place over two days and is delivered in person.

What leadership skills are covered?

Topics include working with boards and funders, crisis management, strategic decision-making, and developing shared leadership cultures.

How many people from one organisation can participate?

Only one person per organisation may attend the workshop.

What are the organisational eligibility requirements?

The organisation must be an Australian arts and culture organisation with annual turnover below $40 million and annual Creative Australia funding below $5 million.

Is there support for d/Deaf and disabled participants?

Yes. Creative Australia covers agreed access services such as Auslan interpreting and captioning. Up to $1,000 AUD is also available for additional access costs, such as support workers or transport.

Do participants have to attend both workshop days?

Yes. Participants must be able to attend the full two-day workshop in person.

Conclusion

The Creative Australia leadership skills workshops provide practical professional development for leaders responsible for teams and organisational decision-making in Australia’s arts and culture sector. The program combines evidence-based leadership models with practical exercises focused on boards, funders, crisis management, strategy, and shared leadership.

Eligible leaders should confirm their organisational and employment requirements, prepare to attend both workshop days, and identify any access needs in advance. The additional accessibility support also helps ensure that d/Deaf and disabled leaders can participate equitably.