We provide a culturally safe environment for our Fellows, staff and communities through recognition of our First Peoples.
We’re proud to have awarded Churchill Fellowships to First Nations peoples since 1966, our first year of operation.
Awarding Indigenous Fellowships is an integral part of our commitment to our ‘all walks of life’ mantra. We acknowledge the inherent cultures and knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
We continue to develop strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement strategies, partnerships for community empowerment, as well as respect for the knowledge systems of our First Peoples.
Our commitment to bring together collective wisdom has supported the formation of an Indigenous Churchill Fellows Network, with the aim to inform and work with the Churchill Trust to increase understanding, accessibility, and impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellowships. This network has also been supported by Patron Professor Tom Calma and Board Director Shona Reid, the Churchill Trust’s first recorded female Indigenous Board Director.
“One of the exciting opportunities I see building in Australia at this point in time is the emergence of organisations whether they be government or non-government whether they be philanthropic or for-profit is the growing commitment to be inclusive of First Nations perspectives, input and knowledges.
We know that First Nations involvement, encouragement and purposeful engagement in further education and knowledge building has been an area in which Australia has not historically excelled at. This was one of the driving reasons for my desire to put my hand up to participate in the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board. Having a voice at a table of an influential Australian philanthropic organisation provides a very unique opportunity to push the traditional bounds of an organisation such as this. I have enjoyed being a part of the emerging change and I can see the genuine commitment by both the executive, administrative and the board. I have seen the real desire to challenge pre-existing ideas and create new opportunities for the inclusion of First Nations peoples and the advancement of our knowledges here in our own country and on the lands of our international brothers and sisters.
I look most forward to seeing this evolve and more a First Nation peoples participate in the fellowship program and within the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust administration and governance.
I encourage First Nation peoples across Australia and internationally to take up this opportunity, reach out and let me know that you’re taking this opportunity let me share in your excitement.”
– Shona Reid, Churchill Trust Board Director and CEO of Reconciliation SA.
Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
Churchill Trust partners with AIATSIS for Indigenous podcast exploring First Nations influence
