Bring Your Ideas to Life on a Churchill Fellowship

Passionate Australians who want to challenge the status quo and create or make a positive impact on Australian society can bring their ideas to life in 2019 by applying for a Churchill Fellowship.

This unique, prestigious, yet accessible award is awarded to more than 100 Australians each year, enabling them to travel for four to eight weeks to countries around the world, so they can meet and work with leaders of influence to gain and exchange knowledge and experience for the betterment of themselves, their industry or community, and Australia. 

No prescribed qualifications are required in order to apply for a Churchill Fellowship and the topic of the proposed project they put forward is limitless, provided a benefit to Australia is evident and a willingness to share the knowledge gained is demonstrated. 

The Churchill Fellowship award has been offered since 1965 to perpetuate and honour Sir Winston Churchill’s memory. The high international regard for the connection between Churchill and this award in his name, provides recipients with access to expertise that is not typically available to everyone, often opening up unforeseen opportunities to work alongside people they would never have expected to meet.

CEO of the Churchill Trust, Adam Davey says that at the heart of the fellowship is the passion, drive and determination that Churchill Fellows share. Similar characteristics that reflect the unique spirit of Sir Winston Churchill are what the Churchill Trust looks for in their applicants at interview.

“What is great about the Churchill Fellowship is that it allows the applicant to create the project they wish to investigate and choose who they want to meet with, to address what is important and urgent for their specific community, and this often aligns with current or emerging issues of local, regional or national importance in Australia,” Davey says.

“Fellows return from the fellowship experience with strong global networks that provide them with the support and confidence to make an impact, and while progress can take time, the fellowship provides the ongoing base knowledge and motivation to achieve what they never thought possible.”

This year, the Churchill Trust is also very pleased to be offering some new sponsored fellowships specifically for aspiring Indigenous applicants, one in partnership with Community Sector Banking to explore the interaction between Indigenous peoples and the not-for-profit sector, and one for First Peoples working in the public service sponsored by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).   

Community Sector Banking is also sponsoring a new fellowship specifically for leaders in the not-for-profit sector and funding provided by Auto Skills Australia has enabled the Churchill Trust to establish a new perpetual fellowship to support the automotive sector and its allied industries.  

Last year 112 Churchill Fellowships were awarded with a combined value of over $3.1 million.

Davey says he encourages Australians from diverse backgrounds to apply for this award.

“Our fellows are from all walks of life, some are experienced veterans in their field while others are ambitious people forging a new direction, all striving to achieve positive change,” he says.

The trust’s national roadshow of information sessions is visiting 32 locations this year. It commenced on Tuesday 12 February in Sydney and will continue travelling around Australia until late-March.

Reserve your place at a session to listen to the experiences of their Churchill Fellows and gain helpful advice on how to apply at churchilltrust.com.au/events.

Churchill Fellows are making a difference every day across all aspects of Australian life addressing an incredibly broad and diverse range of topics and issues.

Apply online for a 2019 Churchill Fellowship from Friday 1 February. Applications close Tuesday 30 April 2019.

Find out how you can travel the world to benefit Australia by visiting churchillfellowships.com.au