Shape the places you live
Some people want to go further: start a club, steer an organisation or take a seat on a board. These are the courses and programmes we would point you to, and the ones we are building.
Free courses and guides
You don't need to wait for us to learn how to start or run a group. Most of these are free and online. We checked each one in October 2026.
Showing 11 courses and guides.
Kickstart a positive community group
Doing Co and Placemaking.EducationA self-paced course of one to two hours on setting a direction, gathering a team and getting started. You get a certificate at the end.
Visit site (opens Doing Co and Placemaking.Education in a new tab)
Community Connector kit
Neighbourhood ConnectA guide to starting a neighbourhood group, hosting its first gatherings and making new people feel welcome.
Visit site (opens Neighbourhood Connect in a new tab)50 Quick Wins
Doing CoA downloadable guide with 50 simple, low-cost ideas for getting a group started and building momentum.
Visit site (opens Doing Co in a new tab)Reimagining Volunteering
Doing CoFive self-paced modules on roles in groups, recruiting people and planning who takes over when someone steps back.
Visit site (opens Doing Co in a new tab)
Volunteering WA training
Volunteering WAWorkshops and forums for people who lead volunteers, covering supervision, governance and engaging young volunteers.
Visit site (opens Volunteering WA in a new tab)
Not-for-profit Law self-help tools
Justice ConnectInteractive tools on getting started, including whether your group should incorporate, and on working with volunteers.
Visit site (opens Justice Connect in a new tab)
Running an incorporated association
Consumer Protection WAThe INC Guide and checklists for groups in WA that have incorporated or are thinking about it.
Visit site (opens Consumer Protection WA in a new tab)
Play by the Rules eLearning
Sport Integrity AustraliaShort courses on safeguarding, complaint handling and inclusion. They are written for sport, but most of it applies to any club.
Visit site (opens Sport Integrity Australia in a new tab)
Every Club hub
WA GovernmentGuides and a training calendar for running a sport or recreation club in WA.
Visit site (opens WA Government in a new tab)
ACNC online learning
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits CommissionSelf-paced courses on governing a charity well, for board members and the people who support them.
Visit site (opens Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission in a new tab)
Commons Social Change Library
Commons LibraryA library of guides on organising, campaigning and working well in groups.
Visit site (opens Commons Library in a new tab)
Get ready for a board
These programmes prepare people for a not-for-profit board, and some place you on one. Several are for a particular group of people, so check who each one is for.
Emerging Leaders in Governance Program
SouthcareEmerging leaders who want to join a community or aged care board
Governance training, board traineeships with community partners and an alumni network.
Visit site (opens Southcare in a new tab)
Board Traineeship
YWCA AustraliaYoung women and gender diverse people aged 18 to 30
A 12-month seat on a community board, with a full scholarship for the ICDA Certified Community Director course.
Applications usually open around March.
Visit site (opens YWCA Australia in a new tab)
The Observership Program
The Observership ProgramYoung professionals who want to observe a not-for-profit board
A 12-month observer seat on a not-for-profit board, with governance training alongside.
Applications for 2027 are open.
Visit site (opens The Observership Program in a new tab)
Leadership and Governance Program
Office of Multicultural InterestsSkilled professionals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Six full-day governance workshops followed by 12 months of mentoring.
The 2026 round has closed.
Visit site (opens Office of Multicultural Interests in a new tab)
Emerging Directors Program
Australian Indigenous Governance InstituteAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people early in their governance careers
Mentoring, training and hands-on experience of how a board works.
Visit site (opens Australian Indigenous Governance Institute in a new tab)
Not-for-profit Scholarship
Australian Institute of Company DirectorsLeaders of not-for-profits with an income under $3 million
Pays for the Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors course. The 2027 courses include Bunbury and online.
Applications for 2027 have closed.
Visit site (opens Australian Institute of Company Directors in a new tab)
Certified Community Director
Institute of Community Directors AustraliaAnyone on, or about to join, a community board
Seven self-paced online units, about ten and a half hours in total.
Visit site (opens Institute of Community Directors Australia in a new tab)
Ready to find a board role? See where board roles are listed.
What we're building
We are building these where existing courses leave gaps, starting with a Perth pilot. Register your interest below and we'll contact you when they open.
Board observer pathway
A year as a non-voting observer on a not-for-profit board, with a mentor beside you. We plan to build it with the organisations already doing this work rather than start from scratch.
For people ready to bring their skills and perspective to a community organisation's board.
Start or grow a club
Practical sessions for people who run social and hobby clubs: welcoming newcomers, keeping adult social events safe, and helping regulars take on a role. It builds on free courses like Doing Co's rather than repeating them.
For people who run a group, help run one, or want to start something new.
How community works
Short sessions on how councils, committees and local organisations work, where decisions get made, and how to get involved.
For anyone who wants to understand the civic side of the places they live.
Be part of the first cohort
Register your interest in any of the programmes we are building. It takes a minute, and there is no commitment.
- Tell us what you do now and where you would like to go
- We are starting with a Perth pilot
- We will contact you when a programme opens in your city