PACE Leadership Program

Our innovative PACE leadership program builds migrant women’s capacity to Participate, Advocate, Communicate and Engage.

What is the PACE Leadership program?

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health runs a leadership program for migrant and refugee women, non-binary and gender diverse people called PACE: Participate, Advocate, Communicate and Engage.

The program aims to build migrant and refugee women’s capacity to:

  • Participate in the workforce, civic and community life
  • Advocate on issues that concern you to make a positive change
  • Communicate leadership qualities and skills, and
  • Engage with issues and others in the community for the purposes of providing ongoing support to other migrant and refugee women

Since PACE began in 2009 we have reached over 350 migrant and refugee people in Victoria to strengthen the way migrant women and gender diverse leaders take the lead within their workplaces, communities and everyday lives.

2024 PACE Program

In 2024, MCWH is hosting a range of PACE events designed for migrant and refugee women, trans, non-binary and gender diverse people who have lived in Australia for less than five years, and are looking for work or are re-entering workforce.

We welcome all migrant women from diverse cultural backgrounds, ages, careers, abilities, and English levels. If you have lived in Australia for over five years and are employed, but still find this program beneficial, you are encouraged to register.

The PACE program provides participants with a range of professional development opportunities and resources including:

  • The PACE 5-Day Leadership Course
  • FAST PACE Leadership Workshops
  • PACE Monthly Newsletter
  • PACE Hub Networking Events

October 5-Day PACE Leadership Course

This workshop has been filled. If you would like to join the waitlist, you can do so at the registration link below.

The PACE 5-day workshop focuses on building skills in confidence, community participation, communication, advocacy and leadership. The program runs over 5 weeks, each Wednesday 10 - 12pm via Zoom, starting Wednesday 2 October and provides opportunities to learn, practice and develop skills in:

  • Communication
  • Public speaking
  • S.M.A.R.T goal setting
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Workplace rights and culture
  • Migrant women's issues
  • and much more.

The program will be delivered on the following dates:

  • 2 October
  • 9 October
  • 16 October
  • 23 October
  • 30 October

August 5-Day PACE Leadership Course

This workshop has been filled. If you would like to join the waitlist, you can do so at the registration link below.

The PACE 5-day workshop focuses on building skills in confidence, community participation, communication, advocacy and leadership. The program runs over 5 weeks, each Thursday from 10-12pm via Zoom, starting Thursday 8 August and provides opportunities to learn, practice and develop skills in:

  • Communication
  • Public speaking
  • S.M.A.R.T goal setting
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Workplace rights and culture
  • Migrant women's issues
  • and much more.

FAST PACE Leadership Workshops 2024

For those interested in a shorter program, MCWH is hosting FAST PACE, a 1.5 hour workshop on leadership, connection and collaboration.

The FAST PACE workshop is available on two dates:

  • Wednesday 11 September from 11 - 12.30pm here.
  • Wednesday 25 September from 11 - 12.30pm here.

Contact us

If you'd like to learn more about the PACE program, would like to be involved, or have any questions, please email our Capacity Building Officer FeiFei at Feifei@mcwh.com.au.

This project is funded by the Victorian Government.

Training with MCWH

MCWH offers the PACE Leadership program as a fee-for service offering as part of our fee-for-service training. We also offer training on intersectionality, intersectional approaches to prevention violence against women and more. 

To learn more visit: https://www.mcwh.com.au/training/.

A group of PACE participants and project staff gather outside the Melbourne Museum.
PACE Leadership participants and program staff gather outside the Melbourne Museum at our 2022 Setting the PACE event.

Set the PACE  best practice guide

Set the PACE  is a best practice guide for those looking to design leadership programs for migrant women, non-binary and gender diverse people.

Set the PACE supports migrant and refugee women, non-binary and gender diverse leaders to design and implement community-based projects that empower and strengthen our communities. This guide offers five ways community leaders/project designers/workers can improve migrant and refugee women, non-binary and gender diverse people’s leadership by centering their experiences, challenging traditional leadership models, increasing accessibility, collaborating with others, and using an intersectional approach.

Download the Set the PACE best practice guide in PDF format

Download the Set the PACE best practice guide - screen reader friendly version

Set the PACE is informed by the Best Practice Guide for leadership programs for immigrant and refugee women developed in 2010 and by over 14 years of running the PACE Leadership program to Victorians.

What makes PACE training different?

PACE is based on best practice and evidence

The PACE Program is based on national and international best practice recommendations for women’s leadership programming.

PACE takes an intersectional approach

The program focuses on both individual and structural issues related to gender equality. It aims to build migrant and refugee women’s personal and community-level skills.

PACE is flexible and designed to meet women on their own terms

The PACE program content can be adapted to meet the learning needs of participants.

PACE recognises many forms of leadership

This program acknowledges that leadership can take many different forms. It supports women to recognise and embrace leadership in ways that build on their existing strengths.