The 2025 Application Round
The 2025 Application round has just closed. Between 28 February and 1 May, we received 1022 applications nationwide.
Churchill Trust CEO Christine Dacey said, “It is wonderful to see the diverse range of applications nationwide. The team begins the review process before the assessments are undertaken in July.”
Before opening the application round, the Trust hosted 19 information sessions (virtually and in person) in 12 locations, which were delivered to 1062 attendees. Feedback on the sessions was positive, with an average rating of 4.7/5 across all surveys.
Below are some of the key statistics from the round.
Who applied?
1022 Applications were submitted.
The applicant ages were spread across a bell curve, with 36-45 (32%) and 46-55 (30%) representing the two largest groups.
- 521 (64.9%) applicants were female.
- 41 (4%) applicants identified as First Nations, which is on par with the national average (3.8%).
- 142 (13.9%) applicants spoke a language other than English at home. This is below the national average (~22%)
- 109 (7.2%) applicants had a disability, with 81 (5.4%) preferring not to say. This is below the national average (~21.4%)
What were the key thematic areas?
| Theme | Examples |
| Health & Wellbeing | Women’s health, aged care, mental health, chronic illness, disability, Indigenous health |
| Education & Youth Development | Early childhood, school engagement, arts education, digital safety, vocational training |
| Climate, Environment & Sustainability | Renewable energy, sustainable farming, biosecurity, green transition, ecological knowledge |
| Indigenous Knowledge & Inclusion | First Nations language, cultural practices, representation in museums, justice systems |
| Arts, Culture & Heritage | Performance, museums, creative storytelling, public art, fashion, traditional crafts |
| Social Justice & Equity | Domestic violence, justice system reform, gender-based violence, disability inclusion |
| Technology, AI & Innovation | AI in healthcare, immersive tech, digital learning, VR, cyber safety |
| Public Policy & Governance | Infrastructure, active transport, governance models, local government systems |
Where were the applicants from?
Applications were received from across every jurisdiction
- 74% were from Major cities
- 16% from inner regional areas
- 7% from outer regional areas
- 1% from remote and very remote, including two applications from Norfolk Island (External Territories)
Where are applicants going?
The applicants’ destinations varied, with over half visiting the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada (51.4%) before dropping away sharply.
The top five destinations put forward in applications are:
- United Kingdom (21.2%)
- United States (20.9%)
- Canada (10.1%)
- Germany (3.6%)
- Netherlands (3.6%)
When were applications submitted?
The 2025 funding round was open for 62 Days – 28 February and 1 May.
Despite the time open, 332 (32.5%) of applications were submitted on the last day.
The last four days saw 800 (78.1%) of applications submitted.
We congratulate all those who submitted their applications for 2025.
The Selection Process page provides information on the next stages of the process and the timing of the assessment.