Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who are in a position to advance development outcomes in priority areas and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership.

The Australia Awards Fellowships program is a competitive grants program providing short-term development opportunities in Australia that develop influential networks to advance development outcomes in partner countries by:

• increasing the capacity of mid-career and senior officials in the region who are positioned to lead priority development and foreign affairs outcomes in partnership with Australia
• developing and strengthening institutional partnerships and people-to people links across the region and beyond between Australian and overseas counterpart organisations.

Fellowship activities aim to provide access to high-quality training, exchange of expertise, skills and knowledge, and opportunities to enhance networks on issues of shared interest. Activities can include a combination of short-term study and/or training, research, professional attachments, and networking.

Who can apply?

Australian organisations such as government institutions, business and non-government organisations are eligible to apply. Organisations must be legal entities with an Australian Business Number and must be able to demonstrate links with partner organisations in participating countries, and provide in-kind or financial contributions to support Fellowships. Individuals cannot apply.

Fellow eligibility

Australia Awards Fellowships target senior officials and mid-career professionals, who, in the short to medium term, will be in a position to advance priority development and foreign affairs issues on their return home. To be eligible, all Fellows nominated by Australian organisations must: 

• be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of commencing the Fellowship; 
• not have Australian permanent resident status or be applying for permanent residency; 
• be a citizen of and residing in an eligible developing country. The Fellow’s country of citizenship and residency may differ; 
• not be current serving military personnel; 
• not be married or engaged to, or be a de facto of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency; 
• have been working in their country of citizenship or residency and in an area relevant to the Fellowship activities preceding the date of the proposed commencement of their Fellowship; 
• be able to satisfy all requirements determined by the Department of Home Affairs for a visa (section 10.3) for further information); 
• be able to participate in the nominated Fellowship activities at the time and for the duration proposed by the Australian organisation;
• be able to travel without family members as DFAT will only fund and provide visa support letters for individual Fellows, not their family members; 
• have an adequate level of English language ability to be able to fully participate in the program, including an ability to complete the Fellow’s Completion Survey at the conclusion of their Fellowship; 
  • Note: Australia Host Organisations (AHOs) are responsible for ensuring Fellows have an adequate level of English language ability or must implement appropriate measures to enable Fellows to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship activities (e.g. translation services). 
  • DFAT does not recommend using translation services for multilateral Fellowships where use of translation services may compromise learning outcomes or where English language capabilities differ substantially amongst Fellows. 
• If successful in their application AHOs should consult with the relevant DFAT post in their selection of candidates for Fellowships (in some instances there may be candidates who Posts may be able to identify as high calibre potential Fellows).

• Email: fellowships@dfat.gov.au