Young Leaders Academy

Passionate about Australia’s future and want to play a role in achieving a better and fairer society? The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is for you!

Inspiring the next generation of Labor Leaders

What is the John Curtin Young Leaders Academy?

The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is a political leadership learning and development program for young Australians (aged 35 and under) who align themselves with Labor’s values, and are passionate about wanting to help create a better and fairer Australia.

This program aims to educate, train, and equip inspired individuals with the tools to win the battle of ideas and become the next generation of effective, successful Labor leaders and activists.

 

The 2025 Young Leaders Academy will taken place across Friday 5th – Sunday 7th December in Melbourne. Applications are now open and will close for submissions on COB Friday 26 September 2025.

 

Over the course of one year, participants will take part in a three day leadership retreat with workshops and guest presentations on leadership, campaigning, and ALP history; undertake a flexible internship with the JCRC in a specialised area; and meet with mentors who will provide counsel and connections to participants on their journeys. Participants will also have ongoing access to the JCRC community of political, union and business leaders.

 

By participating in this program, individuals are given the chance to broaden their political and policy-making knowledge, critical thinking and communication skills. Participants will also get to know themselves, and their leadership style and development needs through dedicated sessions on leadership and personal development. At completion, participants will be referred to as ‘Curtin Scholars’.

 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with like minded individuals who are actively driving change across various sectors – business, community and disability, economics, politics, health, and more.

 

We particularly encourage working and lower-income middle-class Australians living in middle and outer suburbia and the regions to apply.

THE ACADEMY

What the Academy Entails

  • A three-day leadership retreat of workshops facilitated by JCRC Chairperson Sam Almaliki and Executive Director Dr Nick Dyrenfurth, with guest presentations on leadership, campaigning and ALP history and culture
  • Mentors who will provide counsel and connections to each young leader on their journey within the labour movement
  • A 12-month internship with the JCRC, providing an opportunity to learn and be part of research and policy development and advocacy
  • Ongoing access to the JCRC community of political, union and business leaders.

HOW TO APPLY

The Application Process

  • Complete the below application form (by 26 September)
  • Shortlisted applicants interviewed (19 September to 15 October)
  • Successful applicants notified and announced (16 October 2025)

 

Participation in this program is granted via a competitive selection criteria and interview process.

 

Requirements

  • The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is open to all young Australian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. 
  • These applicants must share Labor’s vision and values. They must have proven themselves to be passionate leaders set on making a difference in Australia.

Young Leaders typically demonstrate many of the following characteristics:

  • A personal ideological alignment to Labor’s values of social justice, fairness and equality;
  • A high level of interest in, and knowledge about, Australian politics and current affairs;
  • Evidence of having taken initiative, stepping outside normal roles to start something new; normal roles to start something new, whether political or otherwise;
  • The ability to argue and reason well;
  • Passion, drive and confidence;
  • An authentic motivation to be actively involved in politics in future;
  • A high level of self-awareness, maturity and emotional intelligence.

APPLICATION FORM

John Curtin Young Leaders Academy
Application Form

We are thrilled for you to start this application journey with us. 

 

To apply for the Young Leaders Programme, the following needs to be submitted by 26 September 2025:

 

  • This online application form completed in full, including the two short essay questions;
  • One reference letter to be uploaded via this application form (see important guidelines below).

 

Please have the above letter ready to attach, ahead of starting your application form.

 

Please note that you cannot save your responses until you click “submit” at the bottom of the application form. We strongly recommend that you read through the application first and prepare your answers in a Word Document before submitting them into the form. Only once you click “submit” and receive an automated email confirming your submission, will you know your application was successfully submitted. 

 

Within 5 working days of your submission, you will receive an email from the John Curtin Leadership Team confirming that your application has been received. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 5 working days, please contact us at info@curtinrc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Young Leaders are individuals who are already making a difference where they are. They are known for the values and principles they live by and are committed to not only bringing about change in their communities but also growing and developing their potential. Our Young Leaders can align their own personal value set to Labor’s values, and are passionate about working hard towards a better and fairer Australia, considering politics and government as a serious career option for their future.

Young Leaders are innovators and dreamers. They are never complacent or content with how things are; they are always aspiring to greater heights, rising to new challenges, and willing to learn more.

Young Leaders typically demonstrate many of the following characteristics:

  • A personal ideological alignment to Labor’s democratic values, rooted in our values of social justice, fairness and equality
  • A high level of interest in, and knowledge about, Australian politics and current affairs;
  • Examples and evidence of having taken initiative, stepping outside normal roles to start something new;
  • The ability to argue and reason well;
  • Passion, drive and confidence;
  • An authentic motivation to be actively involved in politics in future;
  • A high level of self-awareness, maturity and emotional intelligence.

The John Curtin Leadership Academy is carefully designed to develop an entire set of competencies in order to grow a pool of knowledgeable, articulate, emotionally intelligent and resilient leaders who can one day lead the Labor at a national and state level.

These competencies include a wide range of practical and philosophical knowledge of politics, critical thinking and communication skills, as well as a high level of self-awareness and resilience over the course of one year.

Young Leaders will also enjoy a high level of interaction with senior leaders in the labour movement.

The academy entails:

  • a two-day leadership retreat of workshops facilitated by JCRC Chairperson Sam Almaliki and Executive Director Nick Dyrenfurth, with guest presentations on leadership, campaigning and ALP history and culture
  • mentors who will provide counsel and connections to each young leader on their journey within the labour movement
  • a 3-month internship with the JCRC, providing an opportunity to learn and be part of research and policy development and advocacy
  • ongoing access to the JCRC community of political, union and business leaders.

The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is designed to allow participants to continue with their normal occupations while on the program. During the course of the year, Young Leaders will participate in a weekend-long leadership retreat and will undertake a 3-month flexible internship with the John Curtin Research Centre. Young Leaders will meet with mentors and leadership coaches over the course of the program. There is a high degree of flexibility, with a strong focus on learning and development of each participant. 

Before the leadership retreat, participants will be notified of travel arrangements. As the 2025 leadership retreat is taking place in Victoria, the JCRC will make all travel arrangements for Young Leaders who live outside of Victoria so that they can travel to and from the retreat.

All costs directly related to the John Curtin Young Leaders Academy are covered by the JCRC.

A national group of approximately 15-20 Young Leaders are selected annually.

The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is open to all young Australian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35. These applicants must share Labor’s vision and values of social justice, fairness and equality. They must have proven themselves to be passionate leaders set on making a difference in Australia.

There are no specific qualifications required to apply. The John Curtin Young Leaders Academy is open to all Australian citizens between the ages of 18 and 35.

Applicants must be aged 35 or younger when they start the program at the leadership retreat in December 2025. Applications that do not adhere to this criteria will not be reviewed.

Applicants must be aged 18 or older when they start the program at the leadership retreat in December 2025. Applications that do not adhere to this criteria will not be reviewed.

Applicants will receive an automatic system email confirming they submitted a form online.

Applications are reviewed by the JCRC and applicants will receive a confirmation email within 5 working days, indicating whether their application package is complete or incomplete. If you do not receive this confirmation, please contact the office.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview. 

The preferred method of communication is e-mail: info@curtinrc.org

Testimonials

“The YLA provides a rich insight into the history of the Australian Labor Party, and what it takes to become a political leader.”
- Faraz Syed, Sydney
“The academy helped me better understand the political system, how to navigate making change, and also made me realise that I have more to offer than I previously thought.”
– Ameer Shehab, Melbourne
“The YLA gives you the chance to develop a great network of people to connect with, from a variety of backgrounds, who you otherwise wouldn't have met.”
– Jonte Verwey, North Queensland
"An engaging program has helped me meet young leaders with Labor values from across Australia, share and discuss ideas and deepen our understanding of the Labor party."
– Aman Gaur, Melbourne
"I thoroughly enjoyed the range and expertise of both the JCRC and the Labor/Labor-adjacent speakers. As one example, hearing Bill Kelty speak was unreal and unexpected. Similarly, the other speakers, be-it from Labor/Hawker-Briton were equally great!"
– David Connah, NSW/ACT
"The John Curtin Research Centre’s Young Leaders Academy is the best learning and development program I’ve ever done. The training at the Leadership Retreat is exceptional and highly relevant to anyone seeking to make progressive change happen. The networking and mentoring opportunities are fantastic."
– Lachlan Kerwood-McCall, VIC
"I enjoyed the lecture by Bill Kelty the most. It was great to hear from a Labor legend about the practical methods of fighting for Labor causes. If you have the drive to fight for Labor values and want to make a difference, but aren't sure how you can do this, then the Young Leaders Academy can help you find your path forward. It will sharpen your policy mind, deepen your knowledge of Labor history, and open up your access to leading figures in Labor and the trade union movement."
– Tim Page, VIC
"Taking part in the Young Leaders Academy deepened my understanding of the breadth of the Labor movement and the various ways to to drive change in areas I'm passionate about. I'll always be grateful for this chance to connect with a diverse range of people – both participants and mentors - from various sectors all across Australia. Nothing compares to the chance to learn from real world leaders, organisers, and government representatives in such a first-hand, candid environment."
– Danielle Dwyer, NSW
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