Application is now open for the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships. Interested applicants are encouraged to send their applications in before the deadline date.
About the Fellowship
The goal of the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships is to encourage ground-breaking responses to Australia’s most urgent social and environmental problems. By supporting initiatives that align with one or more of the program themes of inclusion & equality, sustainability & environment including climate change, or human, civil & legal rights, a Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for recipients to take 12 months to focus on approaches that have the potential to achieve positive outcomes for society.
A program of assistance is provided to fellows along with time and resources to help them advance their projects, see them through to completion, and expand and scale their effect. Each year, Fellows are given specialized time and cash to research their unique topic, concept, or effort. The Fellowship is intended to assist Fellows in advancing their work rather than being bound to any particular KPIs or targets. However, to support their Fellowship, Fellows are obligated to provide a mid-term and final presentation.
Details about Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships:
Scholarship Sponsor: Myer Foundation & Sidney Myer Fund
Scholarship Value: Up to $180,000
Number of awards: N/A
Study level: Fellowships
Host Institution(s): Australia
Benefits:
Each Fellow is eligible to receive up to $180,000 during their 12-month Fellowship, which consists of a salary of $140,000 and up to $40,000 for approved project expenditures. Project expenditures are those that are directly connected to the Fellowship from the outset, such as renting a different workspace (if necessary), traveling, and hiring outside experts, and they are reimbursable.
Fellows have access to a variety of resources during the 12 months, including a mentor, a network of former Fellows, and a panel of experts who convene every quarter.
Eligibility Criteria for Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships
Applicants are advised to meet the following conditions to be eligible for Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships:
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- Spend the bulk of the Fellowship time in Australia;
- Be willing to take a 12-month sabbatical from their existing position (if applicable);
- Possess a track record of success, engage in unconventional thinking, and take calculated risks;
- Be able to put well-thought-out ideas or novel methods into practice (i.e., your concept must have substance;
- A good idea on its own is insufficient).
- Have created networks in a region where the project is intended.
The proposed project must:
- Possess an Australian base
- Be in line with at least one of the program’s three main themes—inclusion & equality, sustainability & the environment, including climate change, or human, civil, and legal rights—and have only been in development for three years.
Additional Criteria
- Strong impact: expected to have an effect and be in line with one or more of the key areas of inclusion and equality, sustainability, and the environment, especially addressing climate change and human, civil, and legal rights
- Distinct or new from existing methods, including using such methods in new settings or sectors
- Experienced and entrepreneurial: a demonstrated history of success or traction in their field, in the subject matter, and/or in the approach or initiative; passionate and connected: a sincere dedication and passion for their cause and the network to make it happen;
- Collegiate and inquisitive: open-minded, eager to learn, able to collaborate effectively with others (including your cohort of Fellows, program advisers, and staff), and dedicated to accepting the Fellowship offer.
Application Procedure for Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships
Individuals who satisfy the eligibility requirements are invited to submit expressions of interest for the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships program. Beginning in late July and lasting for six weeks until early September, the EoI is open. After the EoI time closes, a thorough and rigorous screening process begins, and Fellows are confirmed every year in March. Interested applicants are expected to fill out the EoI form.
The Submission Deadline is: September 10, 2023
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