Eight researchers who are focusing their research in education have been named among 103 Australians to be awarded a Churchill Fellowship, as the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust approaches its 60th anniversary next year.
The honour celebrates a diverse group of everyday Australians committed to making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
“The beauty of a Churchill Fellowship is that they are for people from all walks of life. They are not reserved just for academics or those already in the spotlight,” Acting CEO of the Churchill Trust, Ms Sally Campbell, said.
“In fact, recipients are often quietly achieving extraordinary things behind the scenes. They’re everyday Australians who have the drive to create real change, often without seeking recognition.”
The researchers who are looking into education include:
- Luke Schneider (SA): To investigate autism awareness training in school children to promote inclusion and reduce stigma.
- Kellie Charles (NSW): To explore best practices in AI-informed curricula design to reimagine higher education.
- Dani Villafana (NSW): Peter Mitchell Churchill Fellowship to investigate legal and community responses to sexual violence within secondary school communities.
- Gavin Brennan (NSW): Northern Districts Education Centre (NSW) Churchill Fellowship to investigate international best practice teaching and curriculum design for high school economics.
- Robyn Monro Miller (NSW): To explore international approaches to national play strategies for children’s health and wellbeing.
- Luke Stellar (NT): To explore how strengths-based community development practices can enhance Australian STEM education.
- Chris Bush (VIC): To investigate how AI can revolutionise education and address the equity gap in Australian schools.
- Simone Cassidy (VIC): Dorothy and Brian Wilson Churchill Fellowship to explore impactful and equitable processes to support the learning of refugee-background students.
The Churchill Fellowship is an opportunity unlike any other, giving recipients up to eight weeks to immerse themselves in international best practices, gathering firsthand experiences and knowledge from around the globe. This year’s Fellows will explore a vast array of fields and topics, each driven by the desire to bring innovative solutions back to Australia.
“Fellows return home ready to challenge the status quo and work in their field of endeavour to implement what they’ve learnt – they’re determined to make a difference,” Ms Campbell said.
Since its inception in 1965, the Churchill Trust has awarded over 4,800 Fellowships, each one a testament to Sir Winston Churchill’s belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.
Impact of these Fellowships can be seen in countless areas of Australian life, from the creation of Questacon to the introduction of Unit Pricing in supermarkets.
As the Trust prepares to celebrate 60 years of fostering innovation and leadership, this year’s cohort of Churchill Fellows stands ready to continue that legacy. Their work will undoubtedly touch the lives of Australians across the country, proving once again that curiosity and passion can help to bring about transformative change.
“The Churchill Fellowship is more than just recognition—it’s a celebration of people trying to make a difference,” Ms Campbell said. “Our Fellows are extraordinary not just in their achievements, but in their drive to make Australia a better place.”
For more information, visit www.churchilltrust.com.au.
