Leaders in the not-for-profit sector can apply for a global learning fellowship to develop new networks and observe leading practices.

Community Sector Banking and the Churchill Trust Partnership partnered to offer two Churchill Fellowship 2019 to the Australian social sector. The long term aim of the two Fellowships is to prepare and strengthen Australian NFPs for future success.

CEO of Community Sector Banking, Andrew Cairns, said the knowledge gained from this opportunity will put Australia at an advantage for preparing for the future.

“The successful recipients of these two new Churchill Fellowships will be able to travel overseas and tap into the best practice by experiencing first-hand how overseas not-for-profits operate and address similar challenges.”

The first of the Fellowships will support a development of leadership skills and develop culture programs so future challenges can be met. The second is open for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to explore positive interactions and outcomes amid Indigenous people and communities within the social sector.

Cairns said that in addition to sharing their findings to the sector, “on returning as Churchill Fellows they will be offered a variety of engagement opportunities with Community Sector Banking. This will include invitations to present their findings at Community Sector Board meetings, conferences and other networking events”.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust recently awarded $3.1 million worth of Churchill Fellowships to 112 Australians in 2018. The fellowships addressed challenges that the Australian community is facing by recognising experts across fields.

CEO of the Churchill Trust, Adam Davey, said the worldwide $142 billion not-for-profit sector employs more than 10 per cent of the Australian workforce and the fellowships recognises the value of new ideas for future leaders and for sustainability.

“A Churchill Fellowship is a life changing experience available to Australians from all walks of life,” Davey said. “We look forward to awarding and sharing the findings of the two new Community Sector Banking Churchill Fellows, and welcome all those passionate about the not-for-profit sector to apply.”

The Fellowship applications will open in February 2019 and will offer the opportunity to travel internationally for four to eight weeks to gather insights to benefit the sector.