Young Leaders Program
The Minus18 Young Leaders program empowers LGBTQIA+ young people to be the next generation of leaders. Applications for our 2025/26 program are now closed.
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Applications are closed
Stay tuned to hear about when our 2026/27 Young Leaders Program is open for applications!
About the Program
The Young Leaders Program is for Victoria-based LGBTQIA+ young people aged 18 to 25 years old. The program runs for 10 months, with fortnightly sessions designed to develop the skills, confidence and experience to inspire the next generation of leaders.
More About Young Leaders
The Young Leaders Program is for LGBTQIA+ young people, aged 18 to 25 years old. The program runs for 10 months, starting in October and running until about August.
During the Program, sessions are held every two weeks. These sessions (or "QLABs") are designed to develop the skills, confidence and experience to inspire the next generation of leaders. And they often feature guest appearances from current local LGBTQIA+ leaders, change-makers, and icons!
Being involved in the Young Leaders Program also means you’ll play a starring role in bringing Minus18’s life-affirming youth events to life, including Melbourne Queer Formal. You'll even work with your fellow Young Leaders to create and design your own Leader-led event for queer youth.
Applications for our 2025/26 Young Leaders Program are CLOSED.
The program is open to young people aged 18 to 25, who are able to attend fortnightly sessions (or QLABs) in Naarm / Melbourne.
Our Young Leaders are busy bringing our events to life, connecting to community, and learning from LGBTQIA+ icons! If this sounds like you, join us and apply below.
The Young Leaders Program is for young people aged 18 to 25. If you turn 18 during the program duration, that's okay – we'd love for you to apply!
That said, if you are a Young Leader you won't be able attend Minus18 youth events as an attendee. If you're under 19 and would like to attend Minus18 events with your mates, we recommend waiting for a future program.
Similarly, if you are 25 at the time of applying and turn 26 during the program, please still do apply.
If you're in Victoria, but outside of Melbourne / Naarm, we'd love for you to apply! A number of our youth events, and a number of QLabs, will be digital. Young Leaders also receive honorariums for each QLAB, in order to cover travel costs.
Keep in mind though, that an 85% attendance rate is required for graduation, and that many of our events – including our flagship event, Queer Formal – are in-person. Same goes for a large portion of QLabs.
If you're on the fence or unsure – apply anyway!
To our interstate friends: we hope to have a program for you in the future!
Young Leaders receive an honorarium for every QLAB they attend – this is to cover travel time, and other associated costs.
Young Leaders are also paid for every additional opportunity they engage with. These will vary in size and scope, depending on the engagement, and the org/partner of Minus18 offering the opportunity.