2025 Westpac Research Fellowship

Overview

These Fellowships offer early career researchers a unique opportunity to support their groundbreaking research, provide access to networks, open career pathways and global experiences.

Fellowship recipients will be exceptional people, chosen for their intellectual ability, leadership qualities, and commitment to the community. Successful Fellows will be undertaking research that has the ability to make a difference to Australia’s future in one of the Foundation’s priority areas:

• Sustainable Futures;
• Australia in Asia;
• An Inclusive Country; or
• Thriving Tech Sector.

NOTE: Funding requests for the purpose of medical research as defined in the Australian Research Council's Medical Research Policy will not be considered.

Westpac Bicentennial Foundation (now the Westpac Scholars Trust) will offer two Westpac Research Fellowships valued at over $400,000 over 3 years, with the option to extend to 5 years by agreement. Final value may be less or more as each Fellow’s salary and on-costs will vary according to the university and at what level the Fellow is employed. Included in this amount is access to the Westpac Professional Development Fund and research costs.

A) Eligibility

• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
• You must have been awarded a PhD between 2018 and 2021; or have obtained an Eligibility Exemption Request (EER) from the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) or equivalent. Career interruptions can be claimed for up to a maximum of 4 years for the following interruptions:
  • Carer’s responsibility;
  • Illness;
  • Maternity or parental leave; and/or
  • Non-research employment not concurrent with research employment including standard 40/40/20 contracts.

• If relevant, EER requests must be entered in the Eligibility Exemption Calculator spreadsheet (see 'Supporting Documents') and uploaded to the EOI form for University longlisting, as well as within the full application if your EOI is successful.
• You must commence your research by 30 June 2025.
• Your proposed research must contribute to the future of Australia in one of the Trust’s priority funding areas.
• Your proposed research must include international opportunities which will develop your leadership skills and global networks, such as: study tours for the purpose of research, attending a short course or conference, an internship or volunteering.
• You are able to supply two letters of reference - Personal & Academic.
• Should your application progress to the final stage, you must be able to attend one of the National Assessment Centre to be held in Sydney on 4-5 December 2024.
• Your proposal complies with the ARC's Medical Research Policy.

B) Salary Funding

Funded by: Westpac Scholars Trust.

Amount: $110,000 per year, for three years.

The Westpac Research Fellowship may not fund salaries of Fellows who are receiving another salary funding award (e.g., DECRA) at the same time. If you are on another salary funding Award/Fellowship, or are the recipient of a salary funding Award at the time the Westpac Fellowship is awared, you may request:

• A reallocation of the Westpac-funded amount ($330,000 or part thereof) to another resource (or resources) that will directly contribute to your research (e.g. research costs and / or a research assistant); and/or
• An extension of up to an additional two years to utilise the Westpac Research Fellowship salary funding (which for the avoidance of doubt is capped at $330,000). For example, (i) the Westpac-funded amount could be apportioned over five years, (ii) the Westpac-funded amount could be utilised over years three to five following two years of a DECRA Award; or (iii) the Westpacfunded amount could be utilised over years four and five following three years of a DECRA Award with the remaining $110,000 reallocated to another resource that will directly contribute to your research.

These requests must be approved by the Westpac Scholars Trust and your host university and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

C) Salary Top-Up

Chancellery (Research) has approved the salary top up required will be covered under the conditions of the Fellowship funding policy (internal login required).

D) Westpac Professional Development Fund

Funded by: Chancellery (Research).

Amount: $30,000 over the length of the Fellowship.

E) Research Budget

Funded by: The University of Melbourne (Cash contribution 2:1 basis - Department/School/Faculty: Chancellery. Please note Chancellery (Research) contribution is capped at $35,000 and is conditional on the Fellowship being awarded) *MDHS applicants please note, co-funding must be requested on a 1:1:1 basis, (Faculty, Department/School, DVCR).

Westpac: A fully costed budget for the research project is required in the application. The Research Budget must exclude those costs funded by the Fellowship i.e. salary, on costs and Westpac Professional Development Fund.

UoM: When you submit your full application to RIC for review, you are also required to submit a fully costed Research Costing and Pricing Tool budget form. This form is for internal approval purposes and does not need to be submitted to Westpac.

Note the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) or equivalent will be required to confirm support for the proposed research budget in their Letter of Support.

Amount: Max $105,000 over three years.

How to apply

1. Submit completed Expression of Interest (EOI) form

   Due 3pm Thursday 18 July 2024. EOI form will be made available 21 June 2024.

   NOTE: If applicable, eligibility exemption requests (EER) can be entered in section B2 of the EOI form using the 'Eligibility Exemption Calculator' spreadsheet.

2. Notification of EOI outcome

   Each applicant will be notified whether they can proceed to full application stage by 30 July 2024.

3. Final Applications due to RIC

   Please send a PDF copy of the completed full application to ric-philanthropicgrants@unimelb.edu.au by 9am, 20 August 2024 for a compliance check.

   Once RIC/DVCR approves your application, RIC/CRE will secure the Letter of Support on your behalf.

   You must create a Themis submission and include a completed RCPT budget form.

4. Applications due to Westpac

   Applications must be submitted by the applicant to the sponsor via the Westpac Application Portal by 5pm (AEST) Monday 28 August 2024.

5. UoM Pitch Clinic

   16 - 30 September 2024 (date and time to be confirmed) applicants will be invited to a Pitch Clinic to help prepare and structure your project pitch to the UoM Central Selection Committee.

6. UoM Central Selection Committee Presentation

   Longlisted applicants to present to UoM committee between 11am -  2pm, 30 September 2024.

7. Shortlisted applicants notified

   The two shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the Assessment Centre in Sydney will be notified on 14 October 2024.

8. UoM pitch rehearsal and feedback workshop

   A rehearsal and feedback workshop will take place between 3pm - 4pm, Monday 18 November 2024.

9. Interview at the National Assessment Centre, Sydney

   Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview/pitch meeting in Sydney between 4-5 December 2024. Travel and accommodation will be covered by Westpac Scholars Trust.

10. Notification of fellowship outcomes

    Successful and unsuccessful fellows will be notified  on Mid-December 2024.

Supporting documents

Documents and Resources

• Westpac Research Fellowship 2025 Guidelines
• 2025 Westpac webinar (hosted by Chancellery and RIC - UoM login required)
• Academic Reference template
• Personal Reference template
• 2025 HoD certification
• 2025 HoD & MRI Director certification (for staff based at an MRI)
• Eligibility Exemption Calculator - (UoM login required)
• UoM EOI form via SmartyGrants

Contacts