Deadline: 20 January 2020
The Australian Embassy has announced a call for project proposals under the 2020 Alumni Grant Scheme (AGS).
The AGS aims to strengthen Australia-Indonesia linkages and encourage alumni to leverage their experience and knowledge, put their ideas into action and create meaningful change. The AGS offers seed funding, on a competitive basis, for initiatives that create impact in applicants professional field, organisation and community.
Objectives
The objectives of the AGS are:
- to provide alumni with opportunities to enhance and capitalise on their knowledge and skills to improve practice in their professional fields and communities;
- to develop, maintain and strengthen professional linkages and partnerships between alumni and the Australian government, and Australian businesses, organisations and educational institutions;
- to connect alumni to each other across disciplines and professions, organisations and institutions, and geographic areas in order to share good practice and create opportunities for collaboration; to develop a network of alumni who view Australia’s capabilities and credentials in a positive light; and,
- to showcase Australia’s excellence as a global provider of high quality education and research.
AGS Projects
The AGS projects will be innovative and offer alumni the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to good use. For example, past recipients have used their grants for the following:
- computer literacy training at a children’s detention centre in Palembang
- training and mentoring for English language teachers in West Nusa Tenggara
- cataloguing traditional medicinal plants in Kurudu Island, Papua
- improving rice preparation methods to help control diabetes in Kalimantan
- skills training and microcredit for returned female migrant workers in Indramayu
- establishing a local food cooperative in Yogyakarta
Funding Information
Up to 25 grants are available under the current AGS round.
- Project Grant: The Project Grant provides up to AUD 10,000 for alumni to undertake their initiative. Additional funding (up to $5,000) is available for proposals that partner with an Australian organisation or secure funding from alternate sources:
- while the AGS is about utilising alumni skills and knowledge, they also want alumni to maintain and build their links to Australia. If applicants project is in partnership with an Australian organisation or institution, they may be eligible for an additional AUD 2,000.
- the AGS provides financial incentives for securing alternate funding sources to support project delivery. They will provide alumni with an additional 50% of a third party contribution, to a maximum of AUD 3,000.
- Thus the overall budget for an AGS project grant can be up to AUD $15,000.
- Follow-on Grant: The Follow-on Grant is intended to scale-up or conduct follow-up activities of an AGS project. If alumni were previously awarded an AGS, and they wish to continue delivering applicants project, they may also apply for a grant of up to AUD 10,000.
Note: Applicants will need to clearly demonstrate that their current project is achieving the objectives stated in the original proposal, if they wish to apply for a Follow-on Grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- The AGS is open to all Indonesian nationals who have graduated from a recognised Australian tertiary institution, including recipients of Australian Government scholarships, Government of Indonesia scholarship recipients, and private fee-paying students.
- The AGS is also open to all Indonesian nationals who have completed short-term tertiary courses at registered Australian institutions through Australia Awards Fellowships and Short Courses and the Department of Immigration, Customs and Border Control ELICOS program. Indonesian nationals who have participated in Australian government hosted programs are also eligible to apply.
- The Australian Embassy has a strong commitment to supporting women and people with a disability and strongly encourages these alumni to apply.
For more information, visit https://www.australiaawardsindonesia.org/index.php/news/detail/232/call-for-applications-alumni-grant-scheme-2020