Applications open for award allowing everyday Australians to learn globally and inspire locally

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 are now open 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.”

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 $29,000 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,” 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.

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,” Davey says.

To find out more and apply visit www.churchillfellowships.com.au

Applications close 30 April 2020.

History of Churchill Fellowships and The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

On 28 February 1965, an extraordinary doorknock appeal was held simultaneously in cities, towns and rural communities across Australia. Designated as Churchill Memorial Sunday, the appeal was held just four weeks after the death of famous world leader, Sir Winston Churchill. It set out to raise money for a unique award scheme that would perpetuate his memory and benefit everyday Australians for decades to come.

Endorsed by Churchill before he died, the concept revolved around awarding fellowships to ordinary people, so they could travel overseas, learn, and then bring their newly acquired knowledge back to Australia to share and inspire others.

The war-time leader and British prime minister was held in such high esteem that the appeal became the greatest one-day doorknock in Australian history. Combined with donations from government and business, it raised more than £2.2 million, the equivalent of about $60 million in 2019.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in 1965 to administer the funds and the awards. Since its inception, more than 4,400 Australians from all walks of life have received Churchill Fellowships. With ongoing support from volunteer fundraising efforts, bequests and sponsorships, more than 100 Churchill Fellowships, worth an average of $28,000 each, are now awarded annually.