Young Leaders
Creating the Young Leaders of tomorrow
The Young Leaders program equips LGBTQIA+ youth to build their skills, confidence and social connection – empowering them to be the next generation of leaders.
Current young leaders

Aiden
He/She/They

Anthony
He/Him

Anthony
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Hannah
They/She

Harron
He/She/They

Jayde
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Justin
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James
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Keiran
He/Him

Kellin
They/Them

Lili
She/Her

Mia
She/Her

Millie
They/Them

Luka
They/He

Nicole
She/They

Samuel
He/They

Sophie
They/Them
Young Leaders 2021/22 Impact Report
Our first Young Leaders Program was a HUGE success, with impact to match. And now, we're incredibly proud to share with you the first Young Leaders Program Impact Report.


Applications have now closed
Applications to join our 2022/23 Young Leaders Program have officially now closed. We'll be sharing all the impact our new cohort make in the coming year, and we'll be recruiting again in late 2023.
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.


Build your leadership skills
The Young Leaders program is designed to help you understand and find confidence in YOUR leadership style. Build your skills with Minus18 and your fellow leaders, and learn more about the LGBTQIA+ sector.
Learn from LGBTQIA+ legends
You'll learn from the Minus18 team, each other, and a host of leaders within the LGBTQIA+ community – from public figures to legends quietly doing the work and creating change every day.


Help deliver life-changing events
Be part of the team that delivers Minus18’s life-affirming in-person and digital youth events, including Queer Formal! You’ll provide on-the-ground support at events, and implement all those new leadership skills!
Connect with your community
We love up-skilling, but we LOVE new friends and networks. Connect with other Young Leaders and the wider LGBTQIA+ community through interactive, fun, and social QLABs.


Extra opportunities
You’ll have a front row seat to any extra paid opportunities from within Minus18, other LGBTQIA+ organisations and friends of Minus18. Grow your network, experience, and knowledge!
"This program feels like home"
"Minus18 has given me a space that feels like home, where I feel so incredibly comfortable and can be myself." Young Leader alum

More about Young Leaders
The Young Leaders Program is for LGBTQIA+ young people, aged 18-25 years old. The program runs for 10 months, starting in October each year. Applications open around 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 – they often feature guest appearances from current LGBTQIA+ leaders!
Being involved in the Young Leaders Program means you’ll play a starring role in Minus18’s life-affirming youth events, including Melbourne Queer Formal.
Applications to join our 2022/23 Young Leaders Program have officially now closed. We'll be sharing all the impact our new cohort make in the coming year, and we'll be recruiting again in late 2023.
Unfortunately you must be 18 or over at the time of application in order to be eligible for the Young Leaders Program. We can't wait to receive your application next year!
Similarly, as this is a program for folks aged 18 to 25, if you turn 26 during the program then you will unfortunately not be able to apply. Thanks for understanding!
Thinking about applying, but unsure if you can make all QLab sessions? 90% attendance is expected, so please only apply if you can commit to this!
Minus18's life-affirming, identity-celebrating events are for young people aged 12 to 19, so there's some overlap age-wise with Young Leaders.
That said, it's important to note that applicants aged 18 or 19 who are successful, will not be able to attend Minus18 events as attendees.
If you'd still like to attend Minus18 events with your pals – rather than playing a starring role in delivering the events – then we recommend applying a year or two down the track!
If you're in Victoria, but outside of Melbourne / Naarm, we'd love for you to apply! Many 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 90% attendance rate is expected, 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 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/friend of Minus18 offering the opportunity.
TRAINING & UP-SKILLING
We design sessions that give you the opportunity to understand and find confidence with your own leadership style and to build on the skills you have. We explore how to make spaces more inclusive, and how to stay safe as an LGBTQIA+ advocate.
These sessions are guided by Minus18 staff and feature special guests from the LGBTQIA+ community who are leaders within their field.
CREATION & IMPLEMENTATION
As a Young Leader, you get to be part of the team that delivers Minus18’s life-affirming in-person and digital youth events. You’ll work with the Minus18 Event Coordinator to provide on-the-ground support at our in-person and digital events, and put those new leadership skills into action.
MAKE FRIENDS & CONNECTION
While there’s plenty of time to up-skill and learn from expert guests, this is also your chance to make friends and connect with the other young leaders in the program.
Some years ago, it was volunteers who helped us deliver our youth events and youth activations. We've completely reimagined what "volunteering" looks like at Minus18, to put the emphasis on Minus18 providing training, opportunities, and up-skilling to young people.
Basically? The Young Leaders Program, as well as every QLAB, is about empowering YOU, the next generation of LGBTQIA+ leaders.
You'll still be impacting queer young people though, by being on the ground at our youth events – especially Queer Formal – using those new leadership skills!