The Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship [now known as Australian Awards Fellowships] aims to promote leadership, address major regional development concerns, and build collaborations and linkages between Australian organizations and partner organizations in developing nations throughout Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East. ALA Fellowships are given out twice a year after a rigorous selection procedure.

Australian organizations have the chance to expand and strengthen their relationships with organizations in developing nations by providing opportunities for professional growth in Australia through Australian Awards Fellowships.

Grant funding of up to $25,000 per Fellow is offered on a competitive basis to Australian organizations to support a range of professional development activities.

• Australian organizations may request additional funding of up to $10,000 for bilateral Fellowships and $20,000 for multilateral Fellowships to conduct eligible follow-up activities in the partner country or regions.
  • Fellows participating in follow-up activities in their home countries will be required to complete the Fellows Completion Survey in two parts.

Applications are accepted from Australian organizations only; individuals are not eligible to apply.

• Applications are restricted to Australian organizations (NGOs, academic institutions, research organizations, businesses, industry, media, professional associations, and Government agencies) that can demonstrate ongoing linkages with overseas counterpart organizations in eligible countries.
• Overseas counterpart organizations and individual fellows must be sponsored by an Australian organization and may not apply directly for a Fellowship. They may, however, initiate contact with an Australian organization to explore the latter’s interest in applying for Fellowship funding.
• Prospective fellows identified by Australian organizations must be from one of the eligible countries listed below.

Typically, they will be professionals already in leadership positions or have the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes.

• DFAT will pilot offering support to Australian organizations establishing new links where the applicant has demonstrated a strong understanding of the country and context in which they propose to work.
• Two new themes have been added to the list of development issues:
  • Innovation and Science fellowships, which advance the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda through the international exchange to promote links between research and institutions and businesses; and
  • Tropical Health and Medical Research.
• The maximum number of nominated Fellows per Fellowship is 15.
• The maximum cost per Fellows has been capped at $25,000.
• Grant recipients must have the capacity to complete the Activity Completion Report (ACR)/grant acquittal within 45 days of the Fellowship concluding.
  • Late submissions will receive a penalty score in future funding rounds.
• All Fellows must sign and return a Child Protection Code of Conduct attached to their Acceptance of Award letter of offer.