Scholarships Amnesty International Australia National Annual General Meeting

This year, an Amnesty International Australia (AIA) National Annual General Meeting (NAGM) will be held from the 9th to the 11th of July in Hobart. The Board has decided to offer up to eight scholarships to attend the meeting. More information is set out below. If you meet the criteria, you are strongly encouraged to apply! If you have any questions, please contact your Branch President or Jim Sharp (Board Vice President) at jim.sharp@bigpond.com

Up to six scholarships are available to fund AIA members to attend NAGM (including Youth Summit) as observers and to participate in all the workshops and plenary sessions. The scholarships will cover the cost of return flights to Hobart, two nights accommodation at the NAGM venue (or three nights if required for travel purposes) and all food during the NAGM.

The NAGM Scholarships are intended to provide a means for AIA members (additional to those elected as delegates or observers) to attend NAGM, who might benefit from the experience. This could include members who are not able to attend Branch AGM’s or who are otherwise unable to participate in the election of NAGM delegates and observers to attend NAGM.

It is intended that the scholarships will enhance the diversity of activist experience present at NAGM and assist in ensuring that the training and development provided at NAGM reaches a greater audience. It is expected that the successful applicants will be selected from diverse regions. Activists from regional/ rural areas are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria.

· Member of AIA, available and committed to attending all of the NAGM (Friday 9 July to Sunday 11 July in Hobart);
· Presently an active participant in a branch/ region/ group or network, or in some other capacity;
· Commitment to remaining involved in AIA;
· Desire to improve activist skills;
· Willingness and ability to take back what is learnt to your region and to share it with other activists;
· Interest in learning more about the campaigns and AIA, including the governance aspects;
· Willingness to contribute to AIA’s organisation and development; and
· Keen to gain a better understanding of how AIA contributes to and participates in the global movement.
· Provide AIA with feedback of your experience attending NAGM.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Scholarships

Two scholarships are available to fund Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (aged between 18 to 30) to attend the NAGM (including Youth Summit) as observers and to participate in all the workshops and plenary sessions. The scholarships will cover the cost of return flights to Hobart, two nights accommodation (or three nights if required for travel purposes) and all food during the NAGM.

These Scholarships are intended to provide a means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to participate in the meetings and to share their experiences with AIA members. We also hope that the scholarship recipients will be able to enhance their skills and to share what they learn with their communities.

It is expected that the successful applicants will be selected from diverse regions. People from regional/ rural areas are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

· Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
· Interested in basic human rights;
· Willingness to work with others to achieve change;
· Commitment to take knowledge back and share it with your friends and community;
· Desire in gaining a better understanding of AIA;
· Available to attend all of the NAGM (Friday 9 July to Sunday 11 July in Hobart).
· Must be aged between 18 to 30 years of age.
· Desire to have a continuing relationship with AIA.
· Provide AIA with feedback of your experience attending NAGM.

Process

· Written applications to be submitted to the Selection Committee via email aianegm@amnesty.org.au by 23/06/2010 (two pages maximum).
· Applications will only be considered if they address the selection criteria.
· Two referees are required. For the AIA members’ scholarships, one referee must be someone who is involved in AIA.