{"id":278,"date":"2015-08-20T17:21:14","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T07:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/?page_id=278"},"modified":"2026-06-18T09:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T23:41:13","slug":"future-leaders","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/future-leaders","title":{"rendered":"Future Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>What is Future Leaders?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Tennis Victoria\u2019s Future Leaders Program enables our next generation of volunteers to work closely with their local tennis clubs to create welcoming environments on and off the tennis court. The program is grounded in the belief that diverse perspectives and lived experiences strengthen leadership, improve decision-making, and help build more inclusive and welcoming tennis communities across Victoria.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Program Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Future Leaders Program is designed for Year 9, 10 and 11 students who are passionate about tennis and want to develop their leadership skills. In 2026, the program introduces a project stream model, where participants select a stream aligned to their interests and carry out a real-world project at their club, supported by a dedicated stream mentor and a small group of peers.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Inclusion statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">Tennis Victoria is committed to building a Future Leaders cohort that reflects the communities we work and play in. We strongly encourage applications from young people of all backgrounds, including women and girls, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQA+ individuals, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Express your interest to become a Future Leader in 2026 now!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/app5YBqvUvA6vmGoC\/pagBoClLODLc4FDZx\/form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> to fill out an expression of interest to be involved in the 2026 Future Leader&#8217;s Program.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Program Cost<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The 2026 Future Leaders Program is $300 per participant.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Club and Participant Benefits\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Develop real leadership and project management skills transferable to all areas of life<\/li>\n<li>Build confidence and grow as part of a community of like-minded young tennis people<\/li>\n<li>Work on a project that creates genuine impact for your club and the broader tennis community<\/li>\n<li>Receive dedicated guidance from an experienced stream mentor<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen your club\u2019s future by investing in its next generation of leaders<\/li>\n<li>Gain fresh perspectives and new approaches that clubs can draw on long after the program ends<\/li>\n<li>Be recognised for your contribution at a graduation hosted by Tennis Victoria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Project Streams<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In 2026, Future Leaders participants select a stream aligned to their interests and complete their project in a small peer group led by a dedicated stream mentor. Streams span areas including, club operations, digital innovation, volunteering, and more &#8211; with final streams confirmed prior to applications opening in July.<\/p>\n<p>Time commitment varies by stream and will be confirmed at the time of registration.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Program Structure<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The 2026 program runs in two phases &#8211; a design phase and a club execution phase.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 1: Application &#8211; July 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Applications open in July 2026. As part of your application, you will nominate your preferred project stream and seek club endorsement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 2: Online Information Session &#8211; August 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Participants are invited to attend an online information session in mid-August, where they will find out everything they need to know about the program structure and camp.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 3: Melbourne Camp &#8211; Sunday 27 September (afternoon) \u2013 Tuesday 29 September, 5pm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Participants attend a three-day residential camp in Melbourne to build connections, develop leadership skills, and work with their dedicated stream mentor to develop a project strategy and plan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 4: Project Finalisation &#8211; Friday 11 December, 5pm, Tennis Victoria offices<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Participants come together in person at the Tennis Victoria offices to refine and finalise their project plans alongside their stream mentor, before moving into execution.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 5: Project Execution &#8211; December 2026 \u2013 February 2027<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Participants carry out their project. A mid-program online check-in with their stream mentor group is scheduled in January to support progress and tackle obstacles and challenges.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Step 6: Graduation &#8211; Sunday [DATE TBC], March 2027<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Participants and their projects are celebrated at a graduation event hosted by Tennis Victoria.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Did you know?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Future Leaders has been running since 2001, and since that time we\u2019ve had over 609 graduates from the program, who have given back over 24,360 hours of volunteer time to over 140 local tennis clubs across Victoria.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Australian Open Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>All Future Leaders Graduates each year are also given the opportunity to attend a fun and action packed morning at the AO! Find out what last year\u2019s Future Leader graduates got up to at the AO Experience, proudly presented in collaboration with\u00a0Infosys. Click <a id=\"menur402h\" class=\"fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/news\/2025\/01\/27\/ao25-future-leaders-infosys-experience\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/news\/2025\/01\/27\/ao25-future-leaders-infosys-experience\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> for more information.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">A selected group of Future Leader graduates may also be selected to get involved in the Tennis Victoria Australian Open (AO) Work Force program. Implemented as a pilot program at this year\u2019s AO, the selected Future Leaders volunteered to support the Kids On Court initiative, which has seen over 1,700 Hot Shots Tennis participants from 160 clubs, hit the main stage. To learn more about the AO Work Force program click <a id=\"menur402e\" class=\"fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/news\/2025\/01\/19\/upwey-south-stars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/news\/2025\/01\/19\/upwey-south-stars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Don&#8217;t take our word for it<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div>See more of the program on our Instagram Reels:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DAzflvGSCX5\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Future Leaders Camp 2025 Recap\u00a0&#8211; Tennis Victoria (@tennisvic)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFOp5VaT6dk\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Future Leaders 2024\/2025 day at the AO &#8211; Tennis Victoria (@tennisvic)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFwI4IITGDa\/?hl=en\">A day in the life of a Future Leader volunteering at the AO &#8211; Tennis Victoria (@tennisvic)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000\">Or hear from three of our amazing Future Leaders, Joshua Wight (Upwey South Tennis Club), Shae Sarris (Upwey South Tennis Club) and Serena Aponso (Knox City Tennis Club)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"In conversation with our 2023 Future Leaders\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xjiesTSeqFY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 16px\">\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 14px\">\n<div id=\"attachment_43725\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43725\" class=\"wp-image-43725 size-standard-landscape\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/files\/2026\/04\/FL26-38-1-700x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/files\/2026\/04\/FL26-38-1-700x450.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/files\/2026\/04\/FL26-38-1-360x230.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/files\/2026\/04\/FL26-38-1-200x128.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-43725\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2025\/26 Future Leader&#8217;s Graduation &#8211; Grace Park Hawthorn Club<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Future Leaders? Tennis Victoria\u2019s Future Leaders Program enables our next generation of volunteers to work closely with their local tennis clubs to create welcoming environments on and off the tennis court. The program is grounded in the belief that diverse perspectives and lived experiences strengthen leadership, improve decision-making, and help build more inclusive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5595,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-modules.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-278","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5595"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/278\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}