Program Boosts Women in Community Leadership

Media Release – Marcus Vermey, Liberal Member for Clark, 6 March 2026

Supporting Changemakers in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is supporting women’s leadership through the 2026 Changemakers Community Leaders Program.

Liberal Member for Clark, Marcus Vermey, said diverse leadership strengthens communities and builds a more inclusive, representative industry.

“The Changemakers Program supports women who are making a difference in their communities, equipping them with strategic skills and connections to lead effectively,” Mr Vermey said.

“These scholarships help remove barriers and make leadership opportunities more accessible to women across Tasmania.”

The five-month program, delivered by the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS), offers practical skills development, mentoring and peer support to assist emerging leaders navigate complex social issues and strengthen professional networks to influence change.

The Tasmanian Government has provided funding for the program to be delivered until 31 December 2027.

In 2025, nine women completed the program through full scholarships. Ten fully funded scholarships will be offered in 2026, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disability, and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The program supports the Tasmanian Government’s Equal Means Equal: Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2022–2027, which aims to increase women’s leadership and participation.

Registrations and scholarship applications for 2026 are now open through TasCOSS.

Media Release – TasCOSS, 6 March 2026

Changemakers Community Leaders Program 2026 Launch

TasCOSS has officially opening expressions of interest for this year’s Changemakers Community Leaders Program.

TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said four-in five (82%) of the community services industry workforce in Tasmania are women.

“We’re proud of the long-standing contributions of women working and volunteering in the community services industry in Tasmania,” Ms Picone said.

“We see part of our role as a peak body is to foster the next generation of leaders, and strengthen the capacity of the industry to respond to challenges and deliver better outcomes for the people we serve.

“The Changemakers Community Leaders Program is testament to the strong ongoing partnership between the Tasmanian community services industry and the Tasmanian Government to strengthening women’s leadership across the state.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with the Government to offer ten full scholarships for diverse women in Tasmania’s community services industry who face structural barriers to leadership and professional development because of their identity, background or lived experience.

“Over six months, program participants will build practical skills in systems thinking, policy and advocacy, partnership development and impact measurement, equipping them to navigate complexity and lead with greater confidence and influence.

“The 2026 program features an exceptional line-up of guest speakers and mentors drawn from across Tasmania’s community services and policy landscape, including Dr Lisa Denny, Kym Goodes (3P Advisory), Jackson Fairchild, Alex Johnston (Curated Communications) and many more.

2025 Changemakers graduate and Asthma Australia (Tasmania) Manager of Community Services, Jess Tyler, is a First Nations women who received a scholarship to complete the program last year.

“Changemakers provided the important depth and dimension to my work and enabled me to be a more well-rounded and skilled leader in the health and community services industry,” Ms Tyler said.

“It helped me to see new perspectives and contemplate challenges outside my day-to-day bubble, and appreciate other people’s work, achievements, struggles and viewpoints.

“There is so much to learn about yourself and the world we operate in at work, so I’d strongly encourage anyone working within the industry to step up and make their mark by enrolling in the Changemakers program.”

Registrations and scholarship applications for 2026 are now open through the TasCOSS website.

Expressions of interest close 5pm, Friday 17 April 2026. The program commences in May and will be run in-person in Hobart, Launceston and Campbell Town, with online workshops and peer learning circles in-between workshops.

This program is delivered with the support of the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government.