Alpha applied for the Churchill Fellowship to research on how policy and community engagement can prevent and counter violent extremism in Australia. Alpha was motivated to apply himself in this space following the tragic death of his father, Curtis Cheng, who was shot dead by a 15-year-old terrorist in 2015.
Since his Churchill Fellowship, Alpha engaged with a storytelling project with Multicultural NSW with other survivors and victims of terrorism with the aim of spreading messages of strength, hope and unity. Alpha continues to speak regularly at a range of community events, conferences, and podcasts.
A former teacher, Alpha is currently applying his newfound interest and research in the Federal public service as a policy advisor. He is hoping to apply the learnings from his Churchill Fellowship to influence policy design and community engagement. alpha recognised that this continues to be an evolving field and is determined to learn and engage with emerging research within best practice frameworks.
Alpha believes that no one in Australia should go through what he and his family went through, and will continue to speak out against hate, violence, and the forces that seek to divide.
Project
The Donald Mackay Churchill Fellowship to prevent the risks and rise of Violent Extremism in Australia
Alpha Cheng
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