Fellow Impact Funding

The Churchill Fellowship Impact Fund was launched to enhance the outcomes achieved with Churchill Fellowships across all industries and sectors.

The Fund was set up to invest in initiatives that will create measurable and positive change for the Australian community at a national or local level by:

• supporting Fellowship recommendations where funding is the main barrier to success;
• prioritising initiatives where the applicant has been actively working to achieve impact from their Fellowship and other sources of funding are not readily available; or
• identifying initiatives that actively share knowledge and insights, fostering collaboration and potential for maximising the ongoing impact within the community.

The Impact Funding program is being supported by one of the Trust’s philanthropic partners for an initial period of three years, with two rounds per year.

Impact Funding Recipients

We’d like to congratulate and introduce the successful applicants. Their projects showcase a broad range of Fellowship award years, industries and topics and we’re looking forward to sharing their stories with you as they progress their initiatives.

2023 Round one (June 2023)

Julie Morrison (VIC, 2018)

Julie will undertake a formal independent evaluation of the OPP court dog program. Her project aims to assess the program’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing its impact and benefiting the community.

Michael McSweeney (NSW, 2019)

Michael’s project involves planning and piloting a community theatre program while establishing a Bush Theatre Network. By harnessing the power of the arts, Michael aims to engage and empower communities, fostering creativity and social cohesion.

Taryn Lane (VIC, 2016)

Taryn’s project centres around the creation of the Community-led Climate Transition Handbook. Through this initiative, Taryn aims to equip communities with practical tools and knowledge to navigate the challenges posed by climate change and foster sustainable practices.

Kim Samuel (NSW, 2019)

Kim’s project focuses on developing Australian Design Guidelines for Access and Inclusion applicable to all residential development projects. By promoting universal accessibility, Kim aims to enhance the inclusivity and usability of built environments, fostering an inclusive society.

2022 Round two (September 2022)

Chris Boyle (QLD, 2012)

To spark the mobilisation of family and friends to prevent abuse, domestic violence and isolation.

Chris is the owner of the StandbyU Shield, which helps address complex social issues such as abuse, domestic violence and isolation through the mobilisation of family and friends. The program has three main elements: existing social networks; a plan to address risks; and a wearable device that connects to pre-identified safe networks.

Chris’ Impact Funding project is to further develop his program by building a cloud-based solution that will enable national (and world-wide) automation of the StandbyU shield, and reduce programming time of each shield by up to 90%.

Anita Collins (ACT, 2015)

To pilot a music program audit tool for school leaders.

Anita’s Impact Funding project will enable her to pilot an audit program for music education in schools, to make it easier for educators to identify areas that need improvement, map out a plan, implement changes and measure improvements.

Michelle (Shelly) Dival (WA, 2017)

To establish online learning for individuals to gain skills to create an Autism friendly home.

Shelly’s project is to develop a low-cost, accessible self-learning resource for people and families living with Autism and neurodiversity. This resource will provide the know-how for simple home modifications to minimise sensory overload and improve memory, decision-making, personal wellbeing, and growth.

Alex Kelly (NT, 2012)

To consolidate and create Impact Production tools.

Alex is an artist, filmmaker, activist and orchardist based on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. With decades of experience across film, theatre, communications strategy and troublemaking, Alex has developed a deeply collaborative practice that purposefully connects the disciplines of art and social change. Her Fellowship project was to research the social impact of documentaries. Her Impact Funding project will enable her to create and consolidate production tools to make them more accessible to other filmmakers and artists.

Lisa Penrose-Herbert (QLD, 2016)

To pilot an integrated eye health and vision screening program within Goondir Primary Health Services.

In delivering her Impact Funding project, Lisa will work in partnership with Goondir Aboriginal Medical Service to pilot and implement a screening project to address the significant gap in eye health experienced by Indigenous communities. Lisa plans to use existing programs and under-utilised retinal cameras to deliver this project. She has also identified two key barriers to using retinal cameras effectively that will be addressed by her work.

Jodie Williams (Norfolk Island, 2013)

To launch a new growth platform of sound art compositions with mental health support channels.

Jodie’s project is to share her sound heritage library with sound healing platforms. She will work with the Norfolk Island Hospital and Residential Aged Care Service to support aged care patients and those travelling offshore for treatment, by supplying music therapy devices containing her heritage audio library collection. Her project also includes re-branding her website to focus on palliative and bereavement care support for patients and families and linking to digital music platforms to reach a wider audience.

2022 Round one (March 2022)

Barbara Biggins (SA, 1989)

To review and redesign small screen, a monthly news review of developments in children’s media

Small screen, founded in 1986, is a unique publication on developments in children’s media, research, law, regulation, and opportunities for public participation. Barbara’s project will review and redesign the publication for online distribution, with the aim of expanding its database and increasing its audience and funding.

Morwenna Collett (NSW, 2018)

To conduct a feasibility study for a live-music accessibility charter

One in five Australians have a disability, and many enjoy live music (one of Australia’s most popular art-forms). Morwenna’s project builds on a pilot she delivered in NSW by delivering a feasibility study for a charter for the Australian music industry – ultimately to help make live music more accessible to more people across the country.

Catherine Crock (VIC, 2009)

To stream performances into hospitals, medical schools and conferences to reduce stress and anxiety in healthcare settings.

Catherine works on a national scale to transform healthcare culture and environments through the arts. Her work focuses on the importance of kindness in the health system to improve culture and reduce bullying. Her project will enable her to reach a wider geographic interstate and overseas audience.

Nick Gorman (VIC, 2014)

To work with Yuin community members on the NSW south coast to develop a draft business plan for the processing, sales and marketing of roe products.

Roe is one of several products that can be developed to build employment, business and self-determination of the Yuin community. Nick’s Fellowship makes him well-placed to support the Indigenous community in this venture.

Garry King (QLD, 2002)

To provide a pilot program of workshops for parents and professionals in Gympie and Lismore on non-suicidal self-injury.

There has been a significant increase in self-harming behaviours amongst school children in recent years, and Garry’s project will focus specifically on addressing self-harming behaviours following disaster events.

Tim McLennan (WA, 2016)

To create a demonstration smart-home for patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA, so they can learn, explore and experience assistive technology before going home and back into the community.

By simulating a home environment with a wide range of contemporary assistive technology and smart home options (free of marketing forces), Tim’s project will enable patients to discover what’s possible and what works best for them to maximise their independence and control after an illness or injury. Hear more about Tim’s project when he joins us for the Impact Funding round two information session.

Margaret O’Connor (VIC, 2018)

To establish a collaborative project to collect data for voluntary assisted dying in Australia.

In 2019, Victoria was the first state to legalise voluntary assisted dying with other states following. Margaret’s project is to develop an agreement to collect data from all states on activity and usage, and provide a cohesive national picture on voluntary assisted dying.