2025 applications for The Apiary Fellowship are now open

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Freya Lucas

Nov 12, 2024

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The Apiary Fellowship offers a one-year program that invites early childhood development professionals to collaborate, enhance their leadership, share knowledge and innovate ideas to create a sector that enables all children to thrive.

Applications to join the Fellowship in 2025 are now open, with the Front Project welcoming applications from across Australia, in order to cover the diverse perspectives and experiences from those living in metro, regional, and rural areas, and from those with experience of being in marginalised communities.

Members of the Fellowship aim to bring about change at a systems level through thinking about the ‘big picture’ issues impacting the early childhood sector, challenging the status quo, and identifying what can be done to improve the lives of children, now and into the future.

A spectrum of challenges from climate change through to the affordability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) are open for exploration and discussion amongst the Fellowship, who will collectively determine priorities in conjunction with their supporters.

Through participation in the Apiary, Fellows become “catalytic leaders who continuously collaborate and learn to create change for children,” Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, CEO of the Front Project said. “The Apiary is about honing in on the skills that facilitate big-picture, impactful change to improve the lives of children today and in generations to come,” she added. “Getting involved in the Apiary means coming together to collaboratively bring about change that benefits children. The people involved in the Apiary are people who are a part of and make up this system. They’re pedagogical leads, teachers, educators, CEOs, academics, policy thinkers, researchers and so on,” Dr Croser-Barlow explained.

Applications are encouraged from First Nations professionals in order to continue the mission of the Fellowship, which believes firmly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and that purposeful change for children, families and communities must be informed and shaped by the communities and cultures where they learn and grow.

Participation in the Fellowship builds leadership, collaboration and the capability to bring about lasting change in early learning.

As the Australian early childhood sector heals from the challenges and legacies of a global pandemic, and with a Federal Election on the horizon at a time when educator wage reform and fundamental systems change are occupying significant social space, the input of passionate and dynamic sector leaders is not only welcomed, but necessary.

How does the Apiary Fellowship work?

Over the course of the one year program, three in-person convenings are held in locations across the country, each lasting for three days. At each convening fellows learn new skills in systems leadership, cultural responsiveness, and beneficiary-centered change.

These events are designed by the team to inspire participants to self-reflect, challenge their assumptions and engage in meaningful, yet challenging conversations. Opportunities are created for personal and collective breakthrough discoveries that have the potential to transform the early childhood development system.

The convenings will be held across 2025:

Commencement convening- March 2025, Nipaluna, Hobart, Tasmania.
Retreat convening- July 2025, Gubbi Gubbi Country, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Graduation convening- September 2025, Boorloo, Perth, Western Australia

(Locations subject to change).

Who makes an ideal Apiary Fellow? Apiary Fellows are individuals with wide-ranging experiences and perspectives across the early childhood education sector. Many are drawn to The Apiary in order to learn more about their own and other experiences, become leaders and take action to improve outcomes for children.

Past participants describe the experience as being a space where different perspectives can be heard, where there is a deeper understanding of the system and the social, political, cultural and economic forces around us, and the roles we can play to generate change.

The Apiary Fellows aim to deliver on their promise to children – to lead, innovate and shape the early childhood system, with the children’s needs and future at the centre. Fellows promise to help children flourish, be resilient, culturally secure, and to grow, be loved and be themselves.

How much does it cost to be involved? The Apiary Fellowship involves a one-off program fee of $2,500 to support the design, event catering, and facilitation of the program.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation generously provides financial support for many of the Apiary Fellowships activities.

Travel and accommodation for the convenings are at the participant's own expense.

To assist with financial barriers, the Front Project offers customised equity scholarships, prioritising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, those from remote areas, and others on a needs basis.

Scholarships may cover one or a mix of airfares, airport transfers, accommodation and travel expenses. Applicants may still have some out-of-pocket expenses.

Discounted fees may be applied on request for self-funded applicants and low-income or non-profit entities.

To find out more and apply for the Apiary Fellowship, see here. Applications for the 2025 intake close 10 January 2025.

For more information, please contact Rachael Wilken at theapiary@thefrontproject.org.au

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