Applications are now open for the Future Voices Program 2026/27, a leadership and professional development initiative for early- to mid-career media professionals across Southeast Asia. This year’s program focuses on climate change journalism, providing participants with opportunities to strengthen their reporting skills, develop their leadership capacity, and connect with a regional network of emerging media professionals.

The Future Voices Program is delivered by ABC International Development, also known as ABCID, with support from the ASEAN-Australia Centre. It is designed for media professionals who want to improve the quality, impact, and ethical foundations of climate reporting within their newsrooms and communities.

A total of 33 media professionals will be selected for the 2026/27 cohort. Participants will take part in online learning, professional development activities over the course of a year, and continued engagement through the program’s alumni network.

From the full cohort, 11 participants will later be selected to attend an intensive in-country program in Australia from 20 to 30 October 2026.

Applications must be submitted by 25 July 2026.

About the Future Voices Program

The Future Voices Program is a regional media leadership initiative created to support emerging professionals working in journalism and the wider media sector across Southeast Asia.

The program recognises that climate change is not only an environmental issue. It also affects economies, public health, migration, food security, energy systems, livelihoods, governance, and community resilience. Media professionals therefore play an important role in helping the public understand climate-related developments and the consequences they may have for different communities.

Through the 2026/27 program, participants will be encouraged to strengthen their ability to report on climate change accurately, responsibly, and ethically. They will also develop leadership skills that can help them influence newsroom practices, guide colleagues, engage audiences, and contribute to stronger public-interest journalism.

The program combines several forms of professional development, including:

Online learning activities
Leadership development
Climate change journalism training
Professional networking
Ongoing alumni engagement
Opportunities for selected participants to undertake advanced training in Australia

Rather than focusing only on short-term training, Future Voices offers a longer professional development journey. Participants will remain involved in the program for approximately one year, allowing them to apply what they learn within their own professional environments.

Future Voices Program 2026/27 Theme: Climate Change Journalism

The central theme of the 2026/27 intake is climate change journalism.

Climate reporting often requires journalists to explain complex scientific, economic, political, and social issues in language that is accessible to the public. It also requires careful verification, ethical judgment, and an understanding of how climate-related developments affect different groups of people.

The Future Voices Program aims to strengthen climate reporting across both newsrooms and communities in Southeast Asia. Participants will have the opportunity to improve how they identify, investigate, and communicate climate stories.

The program may be particularly relevant to media professionals whose work involves topics such as:

Climate change and environmental policy
Renewable energy and energy transitions
Extreme weather and natural disasters
Community resilience
Sustainable development
Agriculture and food security
Climate-related displacement
Public health and environmental risks
Government and corporate climate commitments
The social and economic effects of climate change

Applicants do not necessarily need to work exclusively as climate journalists. The program is intended for emerging media professionals who are ready to strengthen their understanding of climate reporting and use that knowledge within their wider professional work.

How Many Participants Will Be Selected?

ABC International Development will select a cohort of 33 media professionals from across Southeast Asia.

All 33 participants will join the broader Future Voices professional development program, which includes online learning, year-long development activities, and ongoing connections with the program’s alumni community.

Of these 33 participants, 11 will be selected to attend an intensive in-country course in Australia.

Being selected for the initial cohort does not automatically guarantee participation in the Australia-based component. The Australian intensive course is a further opportunity available to a smaller group chosen from among the 33 participants.

Future Voices Program Structure

The program has several interconnected components designed to support participants at different stages of their professional development.

1. Online Learning

Participants will take part in online learning activities focused on climate journalism, leadership, and professional development.

The online format will allow media professionals from different parts of Southeast Asia to participate while continuing their regular work. It will also create opportunities for participants to exchange experiences across different media systems, communities, and national contexts.

2. One Year of Professional Development

The Future Voices Program is not limited to a single workshop or training session. Selected participants will receive approximately one year of professional development support.

This extended structure gives participants time to reflect on the training, test new approaches, and apply their learning in their workplaces and communities.

Participants may also have opportunities to build relationships with other media professionals facing similar reporting challenges across the region.

3. Regional Networking

The program brings together emerging media leaders from Southeast Asia, creating a professional network that extends beyond individual newsrooms or countries.

Participants will be able to connect with journalists and media professionals who bring different experiences, perspectives, and areas of expertise.

This regional network may support future collaboration, knowledge-sharing, cross-border reporting, and continued professional exchange.

4. Alumni Engagement

Ongoing alumni engagement is another important part of the Future Voices Program.

Participants will not simply complete the program and lose contact with the network. Instead, they will become part of a wider alumni community that can provide continued opportunities for professional connection and regional engagement.

This long-term alumni element reflects the program’s aim of developing a sustained community of emerging media leaders.

Australia Intensive Course for 11 Selected Participants

Eleven participants from the cohort will be selected to travel to Australia for an intensive in-country course from 20 to 30 October 2026.

The Australia component will provide additional academic, professional, and networking opportunities.

During the intensive course, selected participants will:

Earn a Leadership and Climate Change Micro-Credential

Participants will complete a leadership and climate change micro-credential at a leading Australian university.

A micro-credential is a focused academic or professional qualification covering a specialised area of knowledge. This component will allow participants to deepen their understanding of climate change while also developing practical leadership capabilities.

Receive Training at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Participants will receive professional training at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as the ABC.

The training will expose participants to the practices and professional experience of Australia’s national public broadcaster. It may also help participants reflect on newsroom leadership, ethical journalism, public-interest reporting, and methods of communicating complex climate issues to broad audiences.

Attend the All-Energy Australia Conference

The selected participants will attend the All-Energy Australia conference.

The conference brings together people working across the energy and climate sectors. Attendance will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about developments in renewable energy, energy policy, technology, and the broader transition toward lower-carbon systems.

For journalists, exposure to climate and energy experts can support more informed reporting and help them identify potential sources, story ideas, and emerging regional issues.

Connect With Australian Climate Institutions

Participants will have opportunities to engage with major Australian climate institutions.

These connections may help participants gain a broader understanding of climate research, policy, advocacy, and communication. They may also allow participants to compare Australian approaches with the climate challenges and policy debates taking place in Southeast Asia.

Develop a Personalised Leadership Action Project

Each selected participant will develop a personalised leadership action project with support from industry mentors.

The action project will allow participants to translate the program’s training into a practical initiative connected to their own professional goals.

Depending on the participant’s role and newsroom context, such a project could involve strengthening climate coverage, introducing new editorial practices, developing a reporting initiative, improving audience engagement, or supporting professional learning within a media organisation.

The exact format of each project will be shaped by the participant’s professional responsibilities and development objectives.

Who Should Apply?

The Future Voices Program is intended for early- to mid-career media professionals in Southeast Asia.

It is particularly suitable for applicants who are interested in developing their leadership abilities and improving the quality of climate journalism within their organisations or communities.

Potential applicants may include professionals working in areas such as:

Journalism
News reporting
Editing
Broadcasting
Digital media
Radio
Television
Multimedia production
Newsroom management
Media development
Public-interest communication

The original announcement does not provide a complete list of accepted job titles. Applicants should therefore consider whether their current work clearly places them within the media profession and whether they can demonstrate how the program relates to their professional development.

English-Language Requirement

Applicants must be proficient in English.

Because the program includes regional interaction, online learning, professional training, and possible participation in the Australia-based intensive course, participants will need sufficient English-language ability to communicate effectively and take part in all program activities.

The announcement does not specify whether applicants must submit an English-language certificate or test result. Applicants should carefully review the official application form for any additional instructions concerning evidence of English proficiency.

What Makes a Strong Applicant?

Although the announcement does not provide detailed selection criteria, the program is likely to appeal most strongly to applicants who can demonstrate a clear connection between their professional experience and the aims of Future Voices.

A strong application should clearly explain:

The applicant’s current role in journalism or the media sector.
Their experience as an early- or mid-career media professional.
Their interest in climate change journalism.
The leadership skills they hope to develop.
How the program could improve their work or strengthen their newsroom.
How they would use the knowledge gained to benefit their community or audience.
Their willingness to participate in online learning and longer-term professional development.
Their ability to communicate and participate in English.

Applicants should avoid relying on general statements about being passionate or motivated. They should instead use concrete examples from their professional experience.

For example, applicants could describe a climate-related story they have reported, an editorial challenge they have faced, a gap in climate coverage within their newsroom, or a leadership responsibility they would like to take on.

Why Apply for the Future Voices Program?

The Future Voices Program offers more than technical journalism training. It combines climate reporting, leadership development, regional networking, and long-term professional engagement.

Successful applicants may benefit from:

Greater knowledge of climate change and climate communication
Improved reporting and editorial skills
Stronger ethical journalism practices
Leadership development
Connections with media professionals across Southeast Asia
Access to a continuing alumni network
Opportunities to learn from Australian institutions
Potential selection for the intensive course in Australia
Academic recognition through a micro-credential for participants selected for the Australia component
Mentorship while developing a leadership action project

The program may be especially valuable for professionals seeking to take on greater responsibility within their newsrooms or to become stronger voices in climate journalism.

Important Program Dates

Applicants should note the following dates:

Applications opened: 30 June 2026
Announcement updated: 1 July 2026
Application deadline: 25 July 2026
Australia intensive course: 20–30 October 2026
Program intake: 2026/27

Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day. Early preparation provides time to review written responses, confirm eligibility, and address any technical problems with the application platform.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must apply through the official Future Voices Program application link provided by ABC International Development.

Before beginning the application, candidates should prepare information about their:

Current professional role
Media and journalism experience
Leadership experience or potential
Interest in climate change reporting
Professional development goals
Expected contribution to the regional network
English-language ability
Availability to participate in program activities

Applicants should carefully review every section of the official application form because additional questions, document requirements, or selection conditions may appear there.

APPLY HERE

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Future Voices Program 2026/27 is 25 July 2026.

Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered. Candidates are advised to confirm the deadline according to the time zone stated on the official application portal, where applicable.

For more information about this opportunity, click here.

Conclusion

The Future Voices Program 2026/27 offers an important professional development opportunity for emerging media leaders across Southeast Asia who want to strengthen climate change journalism.

With 33 participants joining a year-long program and 11 receiving the opportunity to attend an intensive course in Australia, Future Voices combines regional learning with advanced leadership training, institutional engagement, and professional networking.

The program is particularly relevant at a time when communities need climate journalism that is accurate, ethical, accessible, and grounded in the realities of people affected by environmental change.

Early- and mid-career media professionals who are proficient in English and committed to improving climate reporting should prepare and submit their applications before 25 July 2026.

Discover more global job opportunities, click here.

Future Voices Program 2026/27: Apply for Climate Change Journalism and Media Leadership Training in Southeast Asia ·Unknown