Young women get a life-changing opportunity to excel in their career

Seat of the Table, a program funded by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, was officially launched in February 2022.

The program is an exciting leadership opportunity for young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds, featuring a 10-month Leadership Immersion Program which includes an Observership Placement and a Facilitated Training Program, delivered in partnership with The Leadership Centre and CMY.


Participants with Helen Babb from Yes get It

22 young women have been successfully connected with a range of organisations, who have agreed to support the young women in the program by providing Observership Placements on their Boards:

  • ARLC VIC Limited (NRL Victoria) 
  • Barwon Water
  • Bennelong Foundation
  • Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children Services
  • CALD2LEAD
  • Centre for Multicultural Youth
  • Fitzroy Learning Network
  • Kensington Neighbourhood House
  • La Mama Theatre
  • Melbourne Press Club
  • Netball Victoria 
  • Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
  • Same Skies
  • Travellers Aid
  • Wellsprings for Women
  • Western Chances

The first workshop saw young women from all corners of Victoria get together and learn more about how the program will run.

Participants heard from Stephen Dunns from The Leadership Centre, on ‘Leadership Readiness’ for Boards, as well as guest speaker Rana Ebrahimi, MYAN National Manager about her experiences of being a woman-of-colour in leadership. After a delicious lunch, Helen Babb from Yes Get It, delivered a session on “Storytelling for your Career/ Story of Self”.

The young women said a highlight was hearing from Rana and Helen about their experiences, and being able to come together in-person after meeting only online beforehand.

The young women will start their Observership Placements in April, as well as continue the leadership training with Stephen, with workshops being held every six weeks.

Through Seat at the Table, CMY hopes to address the underrepresentation of young women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in traditional leadership and governance structures. 

We look forward to hearing more about the Observership Placements throughout the year, and we’re eager to watch these young women become more connected, empowered, and influential.

Meet some of these powerhouse young women and the Boards they have been placed with on our socials in the upcoming months.

For more information about the program, click here.