PROSPECTUS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARD

Applications must arrive on or before 30 JUNE, 2008

1.0  GENERAL

1.1  The Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation offers up to three scholarships each year for full-time post-graduate research in one of the allied health sciences. The award is for up to two years at an Australian tertiary institution with appropriate facilities for postgraduate research. The Foundation has a preference for applications from graduates in the disciplines of clinical psychology, nutrition, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology but applications from graduates of other allied health disciplines pursuing a PhD in that field will also be considered.

2.0  TENURE

2.1  The scholarship will be open to persons who are working as full-time students in a research PhD program only which is likely to be completed during the two year tenure of the scholarship. The applicant will therefore generally have completed the first stage of the PhD project.

2.2  The successful applicant will be expected to take up the scholarship during the calendar year 2009.

3.0  PURPOSE

3.1  The purpose of the scholarship is to try to improve the health of Australians by supporting an outstanding applicant from one of the non-medical allied health disciplines.

3.2  The Foundation also wishes to support an applicant who is working directly in applied clinical research. Projects in laboratory sciences will not be supported.

4.0  THE AWARD

4.1  The scholarship provides emoluments to contribute substantially toward the cost of living, books and charges. The level of remuneration will be $25,000 per annum, free of income tax. Payments will normally be made to the host institution each six months.

4.2  The award will be for up to two years and is subject to the scholar's satisfactory progress. Each six months, the scholar's institutional supervisor will be expected to submit a written report on the scholar's progress to the Foundation.

5.0  SELECTION

5.1  The Scholarship will be awarded on merit by a selection committee appointed by the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation to the person who best meets the qualifications and qualities set out in this prospectus. Interviews will be held in Melbourne in mid-August.

6.0  QUALIFICATIONS

6.1  The primary criterion is that of academic excellence, assessed on the basis of the candidate's tertiary performance and publication record. Applicants should list the papers which they have authored and which have been published (or accepted for publication) in refereed journals. This should not include abstracts or papers in preparation.

6.2  Ethics Committee approval is a prior condition of award.

6.3  The selection committee will also give preference to persons who are likely to make a contribution to the further development of the allied health sciences in Australia.

6.4  Applicants must provide a specific research proposal, developed in consultation with the postgraduate supervisor at the institution where the award is tenable.

6.5  Applicants must be enrolled as full-time students. The "full-time" criterion means that the applicant should spend not more than 10% of time in clinical practice - unless the clinical practice is providing the subjects for the research.

6.6   Applicants must be Australian citizens of at least five years standing.

6.7   The scholarship may not normally be held concurrently with any other award.

7.0  TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP

The Foundation may terminate a scholarship if:

(a)  the research is not being carried out with competence and diligence; or if satisfactory progress is not being made; or if reporting on the project is unsatisfactory;

(b)  the applicant ceases to be engaged on the project, or is absent from the project for more than one month without prior approval;

(c)  the project, in the opinion of the Foundation, ceases to pursue the approved objectives.

Upon the termination, monies already paid to the organisation and not duly expended or committed shall be returned.

8.0  APPLICATION

8.1  Please forward one original copy and one photocopy of the completed application form, a recent photograph, and a certified copy of your Academic Transcript(s), to:

The General Manager
The Menzies Foundation
210 Clarendon Street
East Melbourne Vic 3002

Applications must arrive on or before 30 JUNE 2008
Late applications will not be accepted