Six scholarships to attend Women Deliver conference 2026

Women Deliver (WD2026) will welcome 6,500 gender equality advocates, grassroots organisers, policymakers, and leaders from around 170 countries to share ideas, build momentum, and drive progress on issues that matter most to women and girls. The conference is a space to strategise, connect, learn, share, and take action for a more just, feminist future.

It will include key issues such as climate justice, First Nations treaty and truth-telling, economic empowerment, and ending gender-based violence. Find out more about WD2026.

Scholarships for community leaders

GenWest is pleased to offer six scholarships for community leaders from Melbourne's west to attend WD2026. Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to connect with global activists, advocates, and decision-makers, share their experiences, and gain knowledge and tools to support their work at home.

The scholarship includes:

• A fully paid ticket to attend WD2026.
• Pre- and post-conference group sessions with GenWest to develop clear goals and reflection on how to implement global strategies in our local communities.
• We’ll connect the scholarship recipients so they can support each other at the conference.

Who is eligible to apply?

This scholarship is for women and gender diverse people living in Melbourne’s west who are community leaders, grassroots activists and volunteers.

We will give first consideration to:

• Women and gender diverse community leaders who work, advocate, or campaign on issues such as gender-based violence, sexual & reproductive health, climate justice, LGBTIQA+ rights, youth issues and decolonialisation; and,
• Women and gender diverse people from historically underserved communities, including First Nations people and Indigenous people from the Oceanic Pacific Region, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, people with disability, and/or victim survivors of family violence.

GenWest is committed to anti‑discrimination, including compliance with the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic).

Scholarship recipients time commitment

Scholarship recipients are required to attend:

1. Three full conference days: Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, and Thursday 29 April.
2. One pre-conference session (held between 13 and 17 April) and one post-conference session (held between 11 and 15 May). These sessions will be organised by GenWest at a time that suits all participants.

Recipients are welcome to attend the WD2026 pre-conference sessions on Sunday 26 April, and the Opening Ceremony and Culture Night on Monday 27 April, which are included with the conference ticket.

For more information about eligibility and what the scholarship includes, please refer to the FAQ section below.

How to apply

We are accepting applications via an online form.

We want to make this process as easy and accessible as possible. If you need any help along the way, we’re here to support you. If you need support filling in the online application form or have accessibility requirements, please contact Wennie van Riet, GenWest Project Lead, at wennier@genwest.org.au and we’ll be happy to help.

Applications close on Sunday, 8 March.

After applications close, all submissions will be reviewed by our team. We will contact shortlisted applicants for a brief phone conversation to confirm eligibility and discuss their application in more detail. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 27 March.

Click here to apply for a scholarship via the online application form.

FAQs

Can you share more information about the Women Deliver Conference?

Since the first conference in London in 2007, WD2026 has hosted six global conferences, bringing together more than 30,000 advocates, experts, leaders, and decision-makers from around the world.

The WD2026 program is organised around four focus areas:

• Disrupt the Now: Confront systemic injustices, uplift lived experiences, and reclaim power through resistance and healing.
• Build the Vision: Imagine bold alternatives, redesign systems rooted in justice and care, and co-create feminist futures.
• Align for Action: Forge alliances across movements and sectors and turn shared visions into collective strategies.
• Sustain the Movement: Secure long-term momentum through resources, intergenerational leadership, and mutual accountability.

Find out more on the Women Deliver website.

When and where is the Women Deliver conference?

The conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Wharf, close to Southern Cross Station. The conference will be held over four days from Monday the 27th to Thursday 30th April.

For the first time, the Conference is being regionally hosted in the Oceanic Pacific and co-created by the movements it serves. The programming centres First Nations leadership and the lived realities of women, girls and gender diverse people in the Oceanic Pacific.

Who will be there?

The conference will bring together over 6,500 people from more than 170 countries — including feminist activists, youth advocates, First Nations leaders, workers from nonprofit, community and grassroots organisations, media, governments, philanthropy, and the private sector.

What will this scholarship offer me?

• One free ticket to the value of $1350 to attend the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne
• Pre- and post-events with GenWest staff to develop clear goals and reflection on how to implement global strategies in our local communities.
• We’ll connect the scholarship recipients so they can support each other at the conference.
• The opportunity to connect with global activists, advocates, and decision-makers, share their experiences, and gain knowledge and tools to support their work in community.

What is the time commitment for scholarship recipients?

Scholarship recipients are required to attend:

1. All three full conference days: Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, and Thursday 29 April.
2. One pre-conference session (held between 13 and 17 April) and one post-conference session (held between 11 and 15 May). GenWest will organise these sessions at a time that suits all participants.

Recipients are welcome to attend the WD2026 pre-conference sessions on Sunday 26 April, and the Opening Ceremony and Culture Night on Monday 27 April, which are included with the conference tickets.

Why are we offering these scholarships?

These scholarships are designed to connect global advocacy spaces like WD2026 with local communities in Melbourne’s west by:

1. Amplifying local voices: Scholarship recipients get a dedicated space, through pre- and post-conference sessions run by GenWest, to share the issues that matter most to them. These priorities are then taken to WD2026 so local voices can share with regional and international leaders and advocates.
2. Breaking down barriers: The scholarships make it possible for community leaders, grassroots activists, and volunteers who might not otherwise be able to attend WD2026 to take part.
3. Bringing ideas back to community: Recipients can bring back what they learn, new ideas, strategies, and networks to their communities through a report-back day, making sure global conversations lead to real local impact.
4. Building leadership and capacity: The scholarships support emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds to grow their advocacy skills and connect with international movements, helping them strengthen their work at home.

What is a community leader and grassroots activist?

This scholarship is for women and gender diverse people living in Melbourne’s west who are community leaders, grassroots activists or volunteers.

Community leaders, grassroots activists and volunteers are people who impact positive change in their local communities, often by organising people, raising awareness, or leading initiatives that address local and social issues. Community leaders are closely connected to the people they serve, understand local challenges firsthand, and take action from the ground up. This scholarship is designed to give these grassroots changemakers the opportunity to attend WD2026 and learn from global advocates.

When will I be notified?

Applications close on Sunday, 8 March. We will then conduct a screening process to determine the suitability of nominated applicants. All applicants will be notified by 27 March 2026 whether their applications are successful.

What if I need help?

If you need support to apply for this scholarship opportunity or have any further questions, please email us your name and phone number at wennier@genwest.org.au and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Where can I provide feedback?

At GenWest, we aim to provide services that are respectful, helpful and relevant to client and community needs. The best way for us to create high quality services is to ask the people who use our services about their views, opinions and ideas for improvement. Find out more about how to provide feedback to GenWest.

If you need to make a complaint, our staff will ensure that it is managed respectfully and recorded, responded to, and investigated. You can read about your rights and responsibilities at GenWest and our complaints process here.