Australians from all walks of life are being encouraged to apply for an award, which offers a life-changing opportunity to travel overseas and investigate a topic or issue they are passionate about.
Applications open today for the 2020 round of Churchill Fellowships, a unique award that supports people from diverse backgrounds to explore best practice anywhere in the world for up to eight weeks.
“Everyone has the potential to become a Churchill Fellow – the only prerequisites are passion and curiosity,” says Adam Davey, Chief Executive Officer of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
“The Trust awards more than 100 Fellowships every year to people with all kinds of experience, who are willing to step outside their comfort zone,” Mr Davey says.
Unlike more traditional academic fellowships, Churchill Fellowships are not given for tertiary study. In fact, no academic qualifications are required to apply.
Churchill Fellows design their own projects so they can access expertise which cannot be found in Australia. The Trust covers travel costs and living expenses for four to eight weeks, with Fellowships worth an average of $28,000 each.
“Aside from their monetary value, the Fellowships open doors to expertise and experiences often unavailable to independent travellers, because the award is so widely recognised internationally,” Mr Davey says.
“Then when they return home, Churchill Fellows are encouraged and supported to inspire change at a local level, by applying, adapting and sharing what they have learnt.
“As a result, they make a difference every day in all aspects of Australian life, across an incredibly broad range of sectors, such as agriculture, architecture and the arts, business management and building, science and sport, education and the environment, medicine and manufacturing, traditional lost trades and emerging technology.”
More than 4,400 Fellowships have been awarded in Australia since the award was established in 1965, to perpetuate and honour the memory of famous world leader, Sir Winston Churchill.
Mr Davey says that, just like Churchill, the Fellowships champion people prepared to be bold and daring.
“As Britain’s war-time Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill was famous for his great perseverance, drive and determination. He was a man of the people, and he encouraged everyone to recognise the importance of these characteristics and that individuals could make a difference.”
A national roadshow of information sessions for people interested in applying will visit almost 30 locations this year, starting in Adelaide on February 11 and continuing around Australia until mid-March.
The free sessions will provide advice on how to put together a successful application, with the opportunity to hear individual Churchill Fellows talk about their experiences.
For more information and to book visit www.churchillfellowships.com.au