WPDN Fellowship Award

$5,000 to invest in you — and your future.

In 2025, the Women’s Professional Development Network (WPDN) is celebrating 30 years of supporting women's career development at the University of Adelaide. 

To mark this milestone, we are proud to launch the WPDN Fellowship Award — a new initiative offering two $5,000 grants to women professional staff to pursue a professional development opportunity of their choosing in 2026!  

The Fellowship Award is designed to fund transformative professional development opportunities that will empower you to build new skills and create lasting impact across the University and beyond, in an area that you're passionate about. 

Whether it’s attending an interstate or overseas conference, enrolling in a leadership program, or completing an online course, the Fellowship Award puts your professional growth front and centre!

Applications for the WPDN Fellowship Award open on Thursday 2 October 2025, and close on Friday 31 October 2025.

The WPDN is grateful to our sponsors, Professor Jessica Gallagher of the Division of External Engagement and Peter Prest of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer who have generously provided funding for this initiative. 

  • Award Overview & Guidelines

    The WPDN Fellowship Award offers a grant of $5,000 each to two WPDN members (women professional staff), to support a professional development activity of their choosing. Applications for the WPDN Fellowship Award will open on Thursday 2 October 2025 via a competitive application process. Applicants will be notified of their outcome in late November 2025. 

    WPDN Fellowship Award Guidelines

    • Fellowship funding must be spent within the 2026 calendar year. Any remaining funds left from the $5,000 at the end of 2026 will remain with the WPDN.  
    • Recipients may use the $5,000 on multiple related professional development opportunities, rather than one single opportunity.  
    • Professional development opportunities must be complete by 30 November 2026, with the post-fellowship report submitted by 15 December 2026.  
    • In addition to the professional development opportunity itself (eg. conference, short course, online training program) funding can also be used for related travel expenses, including flights to and from the chosen professional development opportunity (if applicable).  
    • Recipients will be required to submit a proposal paper, outlining the professional development opportunity they wish to undertake as part of the Fellowship and a budget break down, prior to funds being released.  
    • Recipients will be required to either request a tax invoice for the WPDN to arrange payment or pay themselves and submit a receipt to the WPDN for reimbursement. 
    • Recipients will be required to attend a monthly check-in with a WPDN representative.  
    • Recipients are required to complete a post-fellowship report and present this report to the WPDN Executive Steering Committee.  
    • Recipients are required to provide a testimonial at the end of their Fellowship.  
    • Recipients’ supervisors must be aware of and support participation (including time release) in any Fellowship professional development activities.   

  • Eligibility

    To apply for the WPDN Fellowship Award, you must meet all the following criteria:  

    • Be a professional staff member of the University of Adelaide who identifies as a woman 
    • Be employed within the professional classification bands of HEO 3 to HEO 7  
    • Be on a continuing or fixed term / casual contract until at least 31 December 2026 
    • Able to meet all requirements of the WPDN Fellowship, outlined in ‘Award Overview & Guidelines’ section above. Please consider any planned leave of absence for 2026, and how this may impact your ability to fulfill these requirements.  

    Whilst you do not need to know the specific professional development opportunity you would like to undertake at the time of application, you should identify professional skill(s) or knowledge that you would like to build through the Fellowship Award.  

  • Application Process

    Applications open on Thursday 2 October 2025.

    To apply for the WPDN Fellowship Award, you will need to submit an online application via this webform. As a competitive application process, all applications will be assessed by the WPDN’s Executive Steering Committee.

    You are required to nominate two referees from the University, including your line manager. Your referees will be contacted if you are shortlisted for an award.  

    In addition to basic personal/contact information, you will also need to provide answers to the following three questions (maximum of 350 words each): 

    1. What professional development activity would you like to undertake with the WPDN Fellowship Award funding, and why? Please explain how this opportunity aligns with your personal and professional goals. 
    2. How will you maximise the value of this opportunity — for yourself, your colleagues, and Adelaide University? Please include how you plan to share what you learn or inspire others through your experience.  
    3. How will this Fellowship help you take the next step in your career or leadership journey at Adelaide University? Please share your aspirations and how this opportunity will help you achieve them.

    Applications close on Friday 31 October 2025.

  • Questions & Further Information

    Please email wpdn@adelaide.edu.au with any queries about the WPDN Fellowship Award. 
     

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