ECEC’s outstanding leaders encouraged to apply for Sir John Monash scholarship

The General Sir John Monash Foundation and Rio Tinto have formed a new partnership to fund scholarships for outstanding individuals with leadership capabilities, including those working in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. 

 

The Foundation awards postgraduate scholarships to Australians who demonstrate outstanding leadership, are committed to contributing to the broader community and wish to study overseas. 

 

John Monash Scholars are experts in a broad range of disciplines and these scholarships assist with growing their academic and sector/industry networks to help build Australia’s capabilities for the future.

 

John Monash Scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding Australian graduates to support them with postgraduate study at the world’s best universities. Successful applicants demonstrate excellence in their field, leadership potential and are motivated to contribute to a better future for Australia.

 

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must: 

 

• Be an Australian citizen
• Have completed (or nearly completed) a degree with an Australian university
• Be planning to undertake postgraduate study overseas commencing in the calendar year following the year of application
• Be able to argue the merits of their chosen course, institution and how they are best positioned to drive progress in the chosen field of study.

 

Key selection criteria:

 

• Excellence may be evidenced through a degree obtained with outstanding results. It can also be demonstrated through prizes, awards, publications, performances, exhibitions, enterprises and excellence in professional endeavours.
• Leadership candidates should demonstrate leadership experience or potential. This can come from their studies, professional environments and/or the community.
• Citizenship may be evidenced by a clearly identified career pathway that evidences your ability to contribute to Australia and a clear career trajectory that demonstrates the benefit to society. This includes a well-developed case for choosing a university relevant to the proposed area of study.

 

Under the in-perpetuity partnership, which is the first corporate perpetual scholarship, Rio Tinto has donated A$2.5 million to be invested by the Foundation to fund Rio Tinto John Monash Scholarship each year for generations to come.

 

“We are extremely proud to start this enduring partnership with the General Sir John Monash Foundation and contribute to furthering the academic excellence of our nation’s future leaders,” said Kelly Parker, Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia.

 

“Society is changing. Collaboration between industry and academia is crucial in building Australia’s future leadership capabilities.”

 

Ms Parker encouraged First Nations people to apply, saying “Indigenous leadership and advancement is an area of focus for us,” and that she “looks forward to the day when Indigenous Australians are leading and running the biggest companies in Australia.”

 

“We look forward to the announcement of the Rio Tinto John Monash scholar in coming months and to following their journey.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation, its Chief Executive Annemarie Rolls said: “We highly value our corporate partnerships because apart from the vital funds they bring to enable us to award our scholarships, they are also very important dynamic relationships which create access for businesses to incredible talented, innovative and forward-thinking Australians who can contribute to problem solving and deliver value across multiple disciplines.”

 

The first Rio Tinto John Monash Scholarship is expected to be awarded in November 2022 after the completion of a rigorous selection process that is already underway.