The Hireup Board Observership Program
Are you a person with a disability wanting to gain experience in executive leadership and corporate governance? Then you may be eligible to be a Hireup Board Observer! Observe a Board at work in real-time, connect with Hireup's senior leadership and help bring the voice of the disability community to the highest levels of Hireup.
Apply now to be considered for the 2025 Board Observership Program. Applications close 11th April, 2025.
Hireup’s purpose is ‘to enable the pursuit of a good life for everyone’.
To that end, Hireup's Board Observership program aims to create employment pathways for people with disability that share aspirations in corporate governance and executive leadership.
The Hireup Board Observership Program aims to:
Give people with disabilities opportunities to develop their careers.
Ensure people with disabilities are contributing to the big decisions at Hireup.
Increase representation of people with disabilities in boardrooms across Australia.
At Hireup, we believe leadership should reflect the people it serves.
That’s why we’re committed to using business for good—creating real pathways for people with disability to get firsthand experience in boardrooms, not just at Hireup, but across Australia.
In Australia, roughly 50% of people with disability are included in the labour force, compared with 85% of those without disability. When it comes to governance and leadership positions, there’s even less representation of people with disabilities.
We’re thrilled to be delivering such an immersive and high impact program. We hope that in time, more organisations join our efforts to increase representation of people with disability at Board level.
What will the board observer do?
For twelve months, the successful applicant will join Hireup’s Board meetings, either in person at our office in Sydney or virtually. The observer will learn how Hireup works, as well as how business, governance and management all intersect.
The board observer will be mentored by a board member, as well as meet with the CEO and Chairperson regularly. They will have the opportunity to be consulted on Hireup’s big decisions and provide their own perspectives.
Observing the board at work, the board observer will have the opportunity to learn the fundamental principles and functions of boards, their decision-making processes and what’s involved as it relates to the role of a board member.
The board observer will receive an honorarium payment to recognise their commitment to the program. They will also receive training and a year's membership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) to support their ongoing professional development, paid by Hireup.
Our past board observers
“I've seen what it's like for people who can't express themselves, and I felt an obligation with my abilities and my knowledge to try and influence decisions. I want to get around the table and help educate and inform decision-making, decisions for people that influence disability policy.”
Todd Winther - Hireup Board Observer, February 2022 - October 2022
“The most powerful thing a leader can say to someone who is building their career while managing a disability is, ‘you are absolutely the right person for this opportunity, what can we do to make it work for you?’ That is being inclusive and that is how you find people in the margins and empower them to fulfil their potential.”
Natalia Hodgins - Hireup Board Observer, July 2021 - December 2021
“The connections and skills that I am building through the [Board Observership] program are great foundations to make a difference in the disability community. This program is a great stepping stone into the next chapter of my professional career; no matter where that may lead.”
Steve Ralph - Hireup Board Observer, January 2021 - June 2021
Apply to be a Hireup board observer
If you have a disability and think this opportunity could be for you, please apply using the form below or reach out to our Talent Management Lead, Ria on ria@hireup.com.au.
Future board observers will:
- Five or more years professional experience in any sector or industry.
- A strong ambition to take on a director, secretarial or committee member role with other Boards and/or NFPs across Australia in the future.
- Be curious, hungry and ready for a challenge.
- Have time to prepare for and attend Board meetings.
If you’d also like to consider a role at our Support Office, please visit our Careers page.