Up to 35 people from diverse backgrounds are accepted into the ARLP each year. The cohort consists of men and women ranging in age from 26 to 56,  a group of Indigenous Australians and representatives from both wet and dry land areas of Australia.  Diversity is essential to the leadership development process and is enhanced through selecting a mix of:

• primary producers (e.g., livestock, grain, fisheries and mining)
• community-based workers (e.g., local councillors, human service workers, volunteers)
• employees of rurally-oriented service providers (e.g., banking sector, communications sector and large agricultural companies)
• staff from government departments (e.g., Centrelink, state & territory agencies, DAFF, Infrastructure etc.)
• Individuals from research and development organisations  (e.g., CSIRO, RIRDC).

The ARLP is delivered over 17-months with participants attending for 59 days spread over six sessions. The objective is to produce a network of informed, capable and ethical leaders who can work collaboratively to advance the interests of their industries, communities, and rural Australia in general.