FAQs
What is a Westpac Social Change Fellowship?
The Westpac Social Change Fellowship supports the development of individuals who have the vision and commitment to shape a better future for Australians. Each year up to ten Fellowships, worth up to $50,000, are awarded to those candidates who are leading an initiative that tackles one of the Australia’s social issues.
The Fellowship is unique in that it invests in the professional development of an individual. The award is designed to give recipients the time and space to develop the skills, knowledge and networks to accelerate their growth as a social impact leader. This may involve engaging with local and global thought leaders and industry experts, short courses, coaching, mentoring and building stronger connections that will directly enhance your ability to lead social change.
How many Fellowships will be awarded each year?
There will be up to 10 Fellowships awarded each year.
What is the value of each Fellowship and who receives the funds?
The Fellowship will provide an individual with up to $50,000 in funding. The value will vary depending on the applicant’s proposed Development Plan. The funds are provided directly to the Fellow for their Development Plan. The Group Leadership Development Program cost of $10,000 is included in the final Fellowship amount.
What is the duration of the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is typically 12 months and undertaken in the year of the award. Overseas travel must not exceed eight weeks in total (and may be completed in up to two trips).
Who can apply?
We are looking for individuals from any sector who are leading an existing intiative to address a social issue in an Australian community. Applicants should be committed to building their leadership capabilities to accelerate their impact. To be eligible to apply, applicants must be:
- An Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident;
- Over the age of 18.
Check the Eligibility requirements tab for more information.
Do I have to be a not-for-profit?
No, the Social Change Fellowship is open to individuals across any sector leading a program that improves the wellbeing of Australians. The Fellowship is awarded to the individual not the organisation.
Do I have to be a founder or CEO?
No, as long as you are in a leadership position with an existing organisation/initiative and can evidence your contribution to the social impact goals. Ideally you are leading a team.
If your organisation was co-founded with another person is it still ok to apply as an individual?
Yes, and if both individuals wish to apply for the Social Change Fellowship, then each will need to submit a separate application and progress through the selection process on the merits of their individual application – this is an investment in the individual, not the organisation.
To note, one individual per organisation can receive a Westpac Social Change Fellowship in each application year if the organisation has less than fifty employees. We strongly encourage leaders from the same organisation not to apply in the same year where possible.
What kind of initiative do I need to be working on to qualify for a Fellowship?
Your initiative must be an innovative approach to address a clearly defined social need in an Australian community at a local, state or national level.
The following initiatives and uses of funds are specifically excluded from the Fellowship:
- Initiatives for the benefit of communities outside of Australia;
- Tertiary qualifications and/or course fees;
- Initiatives that promote religion, animal welfare or change in law, government policy or practice are not eligible;
- Medical research; and
- Funding of the actual initiative, capital items, refurbishments, organisations, sponsorships, salaries or fundraising activities.
Do you provide funding for initiatives?
No. The Fellowship provides funding only to individuals for personal development and learning. The Fellowship funding cannot be used for program delivery.
If you are looking for funding for your initiative please explore other Foundations within the Westpac Group – Westpac Foundation, St.George Foundation, BankSA Foundation and Bank of Melbourne Foundation.
Do I need to have started work on my initiative?
Yes, your initiative needs to be more than just an ‘idea’ or vision and ideally through the validation stage (see stages here. (PDF 163KB)) You need to be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the social problem you are trying to solve, highlight your innovative approach and meaningful collaborations/partnerships, demonstrate support from the community benefiting from your initiative and have evidence of its social impact. Ideally you are leading a team who can continue your work to enable you to make the most of the Fellowship opportunity.
Can I use the funds to gain overseas work experience?
Yes, if the overseas experience will directly support the development of capabilities required to deliver your initiative in Australia.
Can I submit more than one application in a year?
An applicant may only submit one application per year.
If successful, can I defer the Fellowship?
No. Once the Funding Agreement has been executed the Westpac Scholars Trust will work with Fellows to finalise their Development Plan. On a case-by-case basis due to a medical or other legitimate reason, the Trust may extend the Fellowship beyond the typical 12 months.
Can I apply in the future if I am unsuccessful?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria you can apply for a Westpac Social Change Fellowship in future years, but we do encourage you to seek feedback before reapplying. Also consider if you are applying for the Fellowship at an opportune time in your development and the growth of your social change initiative. If your application has not progressed past the initial selection stage for two consecutive years, we strongly encourage you to take a short break before applying again.
Do I, or the people who benefit from my initiative, need to be a Westpac customer?
No, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. We welcome applications from people from all walks of life working on initiatives that benefit Australian communities.
Do I need academic qualifications to apply for a Fellowship?
No, the Westpac Social Change Fellowship is not associated with academic pursuit.
My initiative supports communities overseas. Am I eligible to apply for a Westpac Social Change Fellowship?
No, your initiative needs to strengthen communities and help people in need in Australia.
Can I use the Fellowship to cover (or partially cover) the course costs at a university or educational institution?
No. Funding will not be provided for tertiary qualifications or tertiary courses.
How do I complete my proposed Fellowship plan and budget?
The Westpac Social Change Fellowship provides funding to support learning experiences that directly invest in your skills, leadership capabilities and networks. Your Fellowship experience may involve local or international study tours, work experience, research, short courses, building stronger connections (including meetings, networking, conferences and stakeholder engagement) or coaching and mentoring.
The value of your proposed Fellowship experience may range from $20,000 - $50,000. Of which $10,000 is put towards a Group Leadership program which includes a residential, leadership profile, virtual learning and connection activities.
In the written application, applicants are requested to identify areas for growth and development and share why the Fellowship is of interest to them. Applicants who reach the National Panel stage will also have access to coaching from a previous Fellow to help guide the development a theory of change which will form the base for their Development Plan. If your application is successful, the Westpac Scholars Trust will work with you to prepare a detailed costing of your itinerary.
Are there any countries that cannot be included in a Fellowship Development Plan?
Travel to countries with a Level 3 (Reconsider your need to travel) or Level 4 (Do not travel) rating by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are not to be included in a Development Plan. Countries Alert Levels are listed on the smartraveller.gov.au website: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au
Will Westpac Scholars Trust provide Fellows with taxation advice?
Fellows are responsible and encouraged to seek taxation advice regarding their individual circumstances. Westpac Scholars Trust makes no representation or warranty in relation to the taxation implications of any funds provided by the Trust to a Fellow.
Will Westpac Scholars Trust provide Fellows with travel insurance?
Westpac Scholars Trust will cover Travel Insurance for the duration of the Fellowship for approved activities. Up to the maximum of 42 days in a single trip.
Will the Westpac Social Change Fellowship cover travel for my spouse, partner or dependent(s)?
No. Fellowship funding will only cover costs for the Fellow.
Is there a salary allowance whilst on the Fellowship?
In the event that you expect to lose at least 50% of your total household gross family income while you are away you may be eligible for a salary allowance. This amount will be payable to you directly and included in the total value of your Fellowship. Please review our Salary Allowance Policy. The salary allowance is generally provided for the portion of the Fellowship you are travelling internationally.
Can the funds be allocated to personal expenses occurred as a result of attending a course e.g. childcare?
Yes, funds can be used to cover some personal expenses such as childcare if you are travelling or attending a course as part of your Fellowship. We can discuss this on a case-by-case basis with successful finalists. Review our policy here.
How do I apply?
All applications must be submitted through the Westpac Scholars Trust online application portal (SmartyGrants) to be considered valid. This online system is accessed via the Westpac Social Change Fellowship webpage. Applicants are advised to save the email they receive from SmartyGrants upon commencing their application, as it contains essential access details allowing them to return to and complete their application before final submission.
Before submitting your application, please ensure you have checked your answers and supporting documents as applications cannot be re-submitted or amended after submission. If you require support with using the application portal, please connect with the Westpac Scholars Trust team westpacscholars@westpac.com.au
What supporting information is required?
Applications received without the below supporting information, will not be considered by the Westpac Scholars Trust.
- An up-to-date CV (no more than three pages, PDF format and smaller than 3MB);
- A recent headshot (JPEG only and smaller than 3MB);
- Contact details for a Community Referee who is familiar with your work in the community you are looking to impact and who can comment your suitability for this Fellowship.
- Contact details for an Expert Referee who is familiar with your social change initiative and who can comment on the importance and relevance of your work in this field.
What is required to be a strong applicant?
You must be able demonstrate:
- That you have the experience, commitment and aptitude to deliver social change;
- The support of the community that will directly benefit from your idea;
- Why your initiative is an innovative approach to the social issue you are seeking to address;
- That you have the experience, commitment and aptitude to deliver social change;
- An understanding of the Fellowship and how you will benefit from the program;
- How your Development Plan, funded by the Fellowship, will build your capability to accelerate your impact;
- Why the proposed Fellowship year is a good time to invest in your development;
- Characteristics that epitomise a Westpac Scholar.
What makes a good application?
A good application takes time to develop. Clearly and authentically communicating your vision for social change, your impact, potential impact and personal development objectives. Please be aware many of the sections have specified word limits. A number of questions also contain guidance to assist you in formulating your response. Unlike a typical grant application, we are interested in your growth areas so we can assess whether this Fellowship will enable you to close your capability gaps and increase your impact.
What could be some common reasons for unsuccessful applications?
- The application does not fall within our eligibility criteria.
- The applicant did not effectively demonstrate their ability to lead social change.
- It is not clear as to the social need you are seeking to address.
- It is unclear how your initiative will address the social need.
- There is a lack of evidence of impact and future potential impact of the initiative.
- Your contribution to the impact is not clearly articulated.
- Your potential for growth as a leader and how the Fellowship will support you is unclear.
- There is a lack of evidence of community support for your initiative.
- The request is to fund a project, organisation, sponsorship, capital works or major equipment.
- The application form is incomplete or has been completed incorrectly.
- You have not been able to articulate why now is the right time for you to undertake a Fellowship to enhance your development to be a social change leader.
How do I know if the Westpac Scholars Trust has received my application?
Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that your application has been received – please check that our emails are not going to spam.
I missed the application window, can I still apply?
No, late applications will not be accepted. Please consider applying in future years.
Can I get feedback on my application if I am unsuccessful?
Unfortunately Westpac Scholars Trust is unable to provide individual feedback due to the volume of applications we receive – top level themes will be provided as to why applications did not progress. Applicants who reach the Regional and National Selection Panel stage will receive personalised feedback.
Is there an age limit with this or other Fellowships?
Applicants need to be over the age of 18 to apply, there is no upper age limit. For other Westpac Scholarships the eligibility is listed on our website for each program.
With the launch of a program - what do you mean by that?
Your initiative/organisation needs to be more than an idea. It should be operational and have demonstrable social impact. We ideally encourage the initiative/organisation to be a few years old and not in validation phase – you need to be able to demonstrate how your leadership helped achieve social change.
Do you have a quota for each state/territory?
There isn’t a strict quota for each state/territory – applications from each region vary per year - but throughout the selection process we do put a lens on demographics and region.
Do you have to have started the initiative yourself?
No – you do not need to be the founder but must be leading an element of the organisation/initiative and have influence to drive change.
What corporate structure is supported through the Fellowship? As the CEO of PTY LTD company - high social impact - am I still eligible?
The Fellowship is awarded to the individual and is open to those working in any sector. A leader from a PTY LTD company is eligible to apply, you do not need to be working for a social enterprise or NFP.
Can the funding be used for disability support throughout the Fellowship?
Yes, disability support costs to undertake development activities are covered as part of the Fellowship. The Trust will collaborate with applicants when developing their Fellowship budget.
What is the oldest and youngest successful applicants to date?
Westpac Social Change Fellows currently vary in age from early 20s to 60s. We welcome applicants from all age groups, you just need to be over the age of 18 to apply and have demonstratable leadership experience.
How do I go back in and access the application I started?
You can log back into the application portal at any point with the username and password you’ve set-up and continue with your commenced application. To continue working on your application, please visit SmartyGrants. To make things easier, you should save the email that will be automatically sent to you by SmartyGrants upon commencement of your Fellowship application.
Once you submit the application you will receive an email confirmation and a PDF of your submission. If you have troubles accessing the platform, please email us at westpacscholars@westpac.com.au
Is there a way to access a template of an application, to allow us to plan the time we need to prepare it and to gather the relevant evidence?
Once you have logged in to SmartyGrants, you will have the option to ‘Preview the form’ or ‘Download preview form’. You can also review all questions in the portal before answering them.
Is there an opportunity to supply references or letters of support with your application?
We ask for Community and Expert References to support your submission. References will be contacted for those who reach the National Panel stage. We will connect with you before contacting your references. Additional letters of support are not required unless requested by the Trust.
Are any previous Fellows willing to talk to us individually about their experience?
Many Fellows are happy to share their experience – you can review previous Fellows on our website and check out reflection blogs. For applicants who reach the National Panel stage, you will have access to previous Fellows to help coach you through this final stage.
Why do you include questions about family history/education/residential area and do these answers impact your ability to apply/success?
The information collected is used to report on the diversity of our candidate base and to assist with any special requirements. It does not form part of the selection process and is optional.
The Westpac Scholars Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements.
If you have a similar initiative as a previous scholar, does that reduce our chance of success?
No, this won’t reduce your chance of success. We ask in the application how your social change initiative is innovative and unique.
Do we have to complete the Fellowship in the award year?
Fellows typically have 12 months to complete their Fellowship in the award year. This is usually a calendar year.
When you meet with people - what specific costs are covered? How should we create a budget for this?
We work with finalists on a bespoke development plan and budget. But when travelling to meet organisations/individuals travel, accommodation, per diems and incidentals are covered by the Fellowship. The ATO has travel allowance guides for various regions (both domestic and international) which are used as a starting point.
Any advice on how to set out proposals for overseas (or even domestic) travel or in-person attendance opportunities?
In previous years we’ve asked for a full budget in the application but this isn’t required anymore – we will work with the 16 finalists who reach the National Panel on this element. In the theory of change, we do want to see thought and depth so be specific with programs or organisations you want to connect with.
What is the time investment that is required? How many hours a week? Will you be able to do it when working full time?
The time invested is based on the approved Fellowship Plan – this is dependent on the travel, courses, and other elements the Fellow wants to undertake.
What if you are trying to support a few different social issues? E.g. gender equality and indigenous entrepreneurship?
This is fine – we encourage you to be clear of the impact the initiative is having and why you are best placed to lead it.
Can the personal/professional references be your board member?
Yes, if the board member is an expert in the social impact area your initiative focused on or has lived experience they can be listed as a reference.
Are most people working full time in their social change initiative? Or do you have people are still building a "side hustle" with the view to making it their full-time focus?
For the majority, it is their full-time focus.
For the individuals and organisations I wish to connect with on the Fellowship, do I need to contact them before applying?
No, generally Fellows will start contacting individuals/organisations once they have been awarded the Fellowship.
