Leadership and Governance Program

Cultural and linguistic diversity brings great benefits to boards and committees. However, there is a large pool of talent within our multicultural community that is largely untapped.

Leadership and Governance Training and Mentoring Program

A group of business people seated at a desk with pens and paper

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ Office of Multicultural Interests' (OMI) Leadership and Governance Program advocates and provides opportunities for achieving equitable representation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds on boards and committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

The OMI Leadership and Governance Program delivers a board governance training and 12-month mentoring program that assists CaLD participants to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to nominate for public, private or not-for-profit sector boards and committees.

The board governance training helps to assess participants' board readiness and learn how to pursue a board role. It includes information about boards, understanding board finances, what being a board member involves and resources that can be accessed to help with an individual's board membership journey.

The 12-month mentoring program is an important adjunct to the board governance training program. It is designed to support those who seek to realise their full potential and, importantly, to step up to an active board position, whether it be in the public, private or not-for-profit sector.

2025 OMI Leadership and Governance Training and Mentoring Program

Expressions of Interest are now being sought from skilled professionals to participate in the OMI Leadership and Governance Training and Mentoring Program.

The purpose of the program is to support equitable representation of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds on public, private or not-for-profit sector boards and committees.

You must:

agree to the terms and conditions of the program
be from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
have appropriate professional skills and qualifications for membership of boards or committees
be willing to actively seek participation on a board or committee
be committed and available to participate in all aspects of the program including all Leadership and Governance Program training workshops and the 12-month mentoring program.

Participants will be required to commit to the following:

Attend 4 full-day workshops at the Australian Institute of Management WA on Saturdays between 28 June and 16 August 2025, and a half day session on Saturday 30 August 2025.
Meet with their mentor for at least one hour every month for 12 months. The dates, meeting place and times are to be decided between mentor and mentee.

Expressions of Interest close on Sunday 11 May 2025.

For further information about the OMI Leadership and Governance Training and Mentoring Program, please email engage@omi.wa.gov.au or call (08) 6552 1607

Cultural diversity training for the boardroom

Is your board looking to attract and retain diverse talent but is not sure how? Does your boardroom provide an environment that empowers meaningful representation from those of a CaLD background?

DiverseWA training is available for public sector employees or authorised NGOs. Contact the Office of Multicultural Interests' Community Engagement Team to discuss inclusion strategies and other cultural diversity training opportunities for your board members.

Advertise upcoming board opportunities with us

Is your board looking for more diversity and fresh ideas? Do your board members represent the wide range of stakeholders that you service?

We have a strong alumni of professionals from a CaLD background with a wealth of experience and global networks, who are ready to commit to your board!

If you are looking for individuals with specific skills or would like to advertise an upcoming board opportunity through our networks, please email the Office of Multicultural Interests' Community Engagement team at engage@omi.wa.gov.au