Centre for Sustainability Leadership

Is the Fellowship Program for me?

The Fellowship Program focuses on attracting passionate individuals who are committed to forging a more sustainable future and can demonstrate they have the vision and potential to drive sustainable change. The Fellowship Program is best suited to those who;

• are in their early to mid career in any field (although there is not an age limit)
• have demonstrated leadership potential
• are driven to see a sustainable future
• are flexible, adaptable and open to new thought and challenges
• have the courage to step up and out to make positive change happen
• are able to commit the time required by the Fellowship Program
• are able to demonstrate their determination, resilience and active involvement in sustainability projects, programs or campaigns
• are within weekly commutable distance to Melbourne or Sydney for the duration of the program

Who runs the Fellowship Program?

The Centre for Sustainability Leadership (CSL) is an independent not-for-profit founded in 2006. Find out more here. The Fellowship Program itself is run by an experienced facilitator and a program manager who are supported by a team of volunteers and interns. The expert speakers and mentors who supply a great wealth of training and support within the Fellowship Program all do so for no cost, kindly offering their time in return for the reward of helping grow a generation of people committed to changing their communities and wider society for the better.

Who’s done the program in the past?

We’ve trained over 250 current and emerging sustainability leaders from diverse sectors and backgrounds. From not-for-profit organisations directors to private business executives, activists, engineers, lawyers, artists, marketing professionals, social entrepreneurs, finance consultants, among many others. Some of our alumni include:

• Miyuki Jokirant, A radio maker and linguist who went on to create a sustainability arts organisation and annual arts festival.
• Joel Leske, Kmart's corporate affairs and environment advisor who has since developed Kmart's sustainability vision.
• Erin Cini, An environmental engineer who started a peak body for young engineering professionals to lobby for sustainable infrastructure.
• Rachel Lowry, Melbourne zoo's, Director Wildlife Conservation and Science, who has been the driving force behind many highly successful, international campaigns linking animal welfare with mobile phone recycling, palm oil labelling and paper recycling.
• Justin Medcalf, an ethical investment entrepreneur who has launched and grown his own thriving business.
• Matt Perry, an ad man turned ethical entrepreneur who created the successful sustainability agency, Republic of Everyone, which works with anyone whose business has the potential to make a positive impact on the world.
• Eyal Halamish, a management consultant, who teamed with team members Mathew Gordon, public servant, and Lihn Do, univeristy student, to create a web platform for young people to connect directly with Australian business and political decision makers.
• Alison Dodd, a commercial lawyer who’s found roles on the boards of various sustainability charities and teamed with alumna Melanie Szydzik and legal colleagues to create the Australian Legal Sector Alliance (AusLSA) and tools for benchmarking greater accountability and sustainability in the legal sector.

Read more profiles of our graduates and their projects:

• Wipe It Out
• renewable fuels race
• urban farming

What will I get out of the program?

• Theoretical, practical and personal tools and experience to assist you in becoming more effective in driving sustainability in your field of passion.
• Opportunity to learn alongside like-minded people from a range of backgrounds and fields.
• Intellectual challenges, the exploration of new ideas and lively debate.
• Support, training and guidance from mentors and speakers who are top in their fields.
• 7-months with and around some of the best young minds in Australia.
• Practical experience creating change through a sustainability project.
• Clarity around your own strategies for creating the world you envisage and practice implementing your strategies.
• An increase in your positive impact in the world (we call this your cultural footprint.)
• Confidence to tackle problems and projects on a bigger bolder scale.
• Access to a network of over 250 change makers in the Alumni program.
• Entrepreneurial and leadership skills that can be applied all throughout your life.

What are the dates of the 2013 Fellowship Program?

Melbourne

Application dates

• 24th February – applications close
• 12th , 13th, 14th March - interviews
• 8th April – enrolment completed
• 16th April - program starts

Program dates Workshops

• Tuesday evenings (6pm-9pm) from 16th April until 12th November 2013

Retreats

• 19th to 21st April (Fri 6.30pm to Sun 4pm), outer Melbourne / Regional Victoria
• 21st to 26th September (Sat to Thur), outer Melbourne / Regional Victoria
• 15th to 17th November (Fri 6.30pm to Sun 4pm), outer Melbourne / Regional Victoria

Graduation

• Tuesday 26th November, 2013

Sydney

Application dates

• 24th February - applications close
• 12th, 13th,14th March - interviews
• 8th April – enrolment completed
• 17th April – program starts

Program dates Workshops

• Wednesday evenings (6pm-9pm) from 17th April to 13th November 2013

Retreats

• 19th to 21st April (Fri 6.30pm – Sun 4pm), outer Sydney / Regional NSW
• 21st to 26th September (Sat – Thu), outer Melbourne / Regional Victoria
• 15th to 17th November (Fri 6.30pm – Sun 4pm), outer Sydney / Regional NSW

Graduation

• Wednesday 27th November, 2013

What time commitment does the program involve?

The Fellowship Program requires a significant time commitment from participants and this should be fully considered when applying for the program. Participants are required to:

• Attend a minimum of 90% of workshops and preferably all. See dates at top of page.
• Prepare for the workshops and complete weekly assignments (approximately 2 hours a week)
• Participant in two one-to-one one-hour coaching sessions
• Contribute to a sustainability project (at least three hours a week but could include significantly more time based on individual desire)
• Attend three training retreats. See dates at top of page.
• Participate in mentorship meetings, self managed on a weekly or fortnightly basis
• Attendance to the graduation ceremony. See dates above.

The Fellowship Program requires a large energy commitment from participants who are continually challenged, exposed to innovative skills and concepts of leadership, and required to contribute as a member of the group.

Participants are also required to abide by a set of ground rules developed by and agreed on by the group at the beginning, and in general to be respectful, honest and open in their behaviour and communication.

How many places are available on the 2013 program?

We offer  25 places in both the Melbourne and Sydney program.

Do I need to have an idea for a sustainability project?

Applicants are not required to have an idea for a sustainability project prior to commencing the program.

What is the cost of the program?

The Fellowship Program is subsidised thanks to the generous support of CSL's partners. The cost to the participant is a $3,850 (plus GST) contribution to course costs as well as paying their own travel costs to the retreats.

The full cost of the program is approximately $15,000 per participant, funded by our generous sponsors and in-kind support.

There are a number of scholarships available that cover all but $750 of the program cost. If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please outline the reason in your written application (more details below.) 

Sydney participants will also need to cover their own transport costs to the Melbourne-based retreat in September.

There is also a $35 application fee

What are the details and requirements of scholarships?

If you cannot afford the $3,850 contribution there are a number of scholarships available. Scholarship details and requirements are as follows;

• Scholarships cover tuition fees and retreat related costs excluding travel costs
• Scholarship participants are required to make a personal contribution of $750
• Scholarship participants need to provide  reports to their scholarship provider and be available to present at their sponsors workplace
• If the scholarship holder withdraws from the program at any time, they are liable to repay the $8,000 – $10,000 scholarship fee.

If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships, please outline the reason in your written application.

What is CSL’s approach to training in the Fellowship Program?

Our learning methodology is highly dynamic and interactive and includes a mixture of theory, reflection and practice. Throughout the program participants are encouraged to reflect on their own assumptions, purpose and values.

• Peer-to-peer learning.
• Constructivist learning; where participants create materials related to real world outcomes through their sustainability projects.
• Interactive panel discussions.
• Simulated debate.
• Role-play
• Theory and enquiry facilitated experts in their field.
• Mentorship.
• One-to-one coaching.

The learning environment fostered is interactive, active, critical, collaborative and participative.

How is the Fellowship Program different to other programs?

• We bring together diverse like-minded high-calibre people to explore how to envisage and influence sustainability.
• The program is highly practical. Participants apply theory, knowledge and skills to real world problems.
• We look at finding the roots of problems which, if changed, could leverage big change, and not on treating the symptoms.
• We foster thinking and action that is challenging yet respectful to a world facing an uncertain future.
• The program is largely based on the development of leadership skills in relation to enabling sustainability – the skills needed to influence change.
• The journey we take participants on is highly personal, and looks at what each participant specifically needs to be more influential and effective in creating change and reaslising their dreams.
• Participants decide on the sustainable world they want to create, not one we or anyone else tell them they should create.
• We look at the nuts and bolts of creating change . We expose current paradigms and realities, seek to understand why we are where we are. We then explore how people, society and organisations can shift to new states of operation and thinking.
• The program gives participants access to amazing networks.
• The program gives broad exposure to a wide range of world changing competencies.
• The program is flexible in that works with people's diverse passions and theories of change. We embrace diversity and seek to have people collaborate and form solutions together.
• Our graduates are successful at creating change.
• We continue to support the people who complete our programs through the Alumni Program.
• Organisationally we’re open to change, new ideas, new ways of doing things and are willing to take risks – which means we’re pretty exciting to be part of.

Can I get academic credit for participating in the program?

It is possible for some students to achieve subject credit for this course as a ‘work experience’ or ‘project management’ subject. Please arrange this directly through your university.

What happens after the completion of the Fellowship Program?

Graduates of the Fellowship Program are invited to join the Alumni Program which offers ongoing and exclusive opportunities to connect, communicate and collaborate with the growing Alumni community as well as access to resources and ongoing professional development.

What happens if I don’t get in?

Each year we select only 25 people for the programs run in Melbourne and Sydney. This means many great people miss out. There are a few options that we suggest for individuals who miss out on getting in:

• Join Leadership rewired www.rewired.org our online e-learning platform
• Participate in and practice learnings from CSL short courses.
• Apply again next year.  It may have been a particularly popular year for applicants from your industry, or we may have been looking for more demonstrated leadership potential, so please don’t be deterred.
• Make a difference through your work, in a volunteer role or through a sustainability project.
• CSL is always looking for partnerships and people to work with on exciting projects. Alternatively, there are thousands of organisations and courses in Australia looking for incredible people to help in the sustainability movement.