The Wangaratta councillor has been accepted into Woman and Leadership Australia's advanced leadership course.

At just 21 years old, she will be rubbing shoulders with chief executives and directors from across the country.

"I think it's going to make me more open-minded, it's going to help me see different leadership styles and different management styles, big and small," Cr Fitzpatrick said.

"It's going to make me embrace my strengths as a councillor and also draw out things as a councillor that I need to work on - and I'm all for that."

Originally thinking she might be put into the emerging leaders program, Cr Fitzpatrick said she was excited to be accepted into the advanced course, which she said happened because organisers looked at the issues she has already tackled as a councillor.

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"It's good to say to our young people 'apply, go for things, take a chance'," she said. "I'm quite honoured and it's amazing what you can do and what opportunities there are.

"Just because we're from a rural area doesn't mean we can't succeed and really excel in the country."

The 12-month course will require Cr Fitzpatrick to spend a couple of days per week studying in Melbourne.

Woman and Leadership Australia described its course as "career-defining", stating it had been created to help the advancement of elite women, as well as "radically develop Australia's executive talent pool".

Cr Fitzpatrick, the only woman alongside six men on Wangaratta Council, said she was grateful for male colleagues who not only support her, but support women in general.

"I've had amazing male role models," she said.

"(The Wangaratta councillors) have all supported with this, they've just been thrilled.

"They acknowledge they're not female and they can't give me that female mentorship so they've embraced this and they're quite proud."

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