Churchill Fellowship applications now open, ready for passionate ECEC professionals

Applications for the 2023 round of Churchill Fellowships are now open, which offer professionals from all fields, including early childhood education and care (ECEC), the opportunity to travel overseas for four to eight weeks to explore a topic or issue that they’re passionate about, and come back and share knowledge about international best practice and innovation.

Churchill Fellowships have previously supported ECEC focused projects and explorations like the Playschool Theme song, studying the colour strings method in Finland, researching innovative collaborative early childhood educator training programs in Indigenous communities, and understanding the mechanisms that enable effective cross-sector intervention for vulnerable children.

2009 Churchill Fellow Kerry Hodge visited the USA, Canada and the UK to learn more about innovative programs for gifted preschoolers and training in early gifted education for their teachers. 

In 2012, Tania Porter visited Canada and the United States to understand more deeply the collaborative training programs in place to work in Indigenous communities. 

“I am forever grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said at the time, acknowledging the support of a wide network, who generously supported her through sharing time, ideas and advice, making her Fellowship “an incredible journey”.

The Churchill Trust was set up in 1965 after the death of Sir Winston Churchill, and almost six decades ago, the “Churchill Memorial Sunday” door-knock appeal was held across Australia, one of the largest of its kind at that time.

Churchill Fellowships are open to everyday Australian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18, from any field. No educational qualifications are needed to apply. The range of topics is limitless, and applicants are empowered to design their own projects. 

Applicants need to demonstrate a benefit to the Australian community in bringing back and applying learnings from their project.

A series of information sessions are available, along with inspiration in the form of projects undertaken by previous recipients. 

Applications opened 1 March 2023, and close 1 May 2023. To apply, or for more information, see here.