LEAD YOUR WAY 2026 – APPLY NOW
AFL Victoria’s Lead Your Way Program is calling on women and gender-diverse people in community football leadership to level up their skills and network in 2026.
If you’re a current committee level volunteer at a community football club, league or umpire association this program is designed for you. Engage in a dynamic mix of online and in -person events led by expert facilitators and football industry leaders.
Applicants must be over 18 years of age, live in Victoria and hold a current leadership position as a committee volunteer within an AFL Victoria affiliated community football club or umpire association, or be a future committee volunteer as part of a succession plan.
Applications are open now and close at 11:59pm on Friday 30 January, 2026.
Lead Your Way is a free program, with no costs to apply or attend events (once selected).
From interactive webinars to hands-on workshops, capped off with a celebratory end of program event, Lead Your Way is your opportunity to build confidence, strengthen leadership, and kick goals on and off the field.
The program will run from March through to October, with a program schedule to be shared with successful applicants in the new year. It is delivered through a mix of in-person and online sessions, allowing for face-to-face networking and also designed to fit around busy schedules during football season.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email no later than Tuesday 24 February, 2026.
Places in the Lead Your Way program are strictly limited, and unfortunately not all applications will be successful.
AFL Victoria strongly encourages applicants who have not been successful in previous intakes to apply again in 2026.
About Lead Your Way
Lead Your Way is designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of women and gender-diverse individuals through a dynamic series of development and networking events. Now entering its third year, the national program is delivered by AFL Victoria to reflect local needs and contexts surrounding community football.
The program is specifically designed for senior leaders operating at committee, board or executive level in community football clubs, leagues and umpire associations.