Sector leaders among 103 ‘bold change-makers’ to receive Churchill Fellowships

A number of friends and colleagues of Philanthropy Australia have received 2024 Churchill Fellowships to do a study tour overseas. They include Erin Dolan, from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Bernadette Black AM, CEO of Seed Futures, who spoke at the 2023 Philanthropy Meets Parliament Summit in Canberra, and Em Scott, CEO of GiveOUT. Here, Erin and Bernadette share more on their study plans and how they hope the research will feed into their work across the sector.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust celebrates a diverse group of everyday Australians committed to making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Sally Campbell, Acting CEO of the Churchill Trust, said: “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.

“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 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,” said Sally.

Since its inception in 1965, the Churchill Trust has awarded more than 4,700 Fellowships. Impact of these Fellowships can be seen in countless areas of Australian life, from the development of Questacon to the introduction of unit pricing in supermarkets.

Churchill Fellowships in 2024 are awarded to 24 people from VIC, 23 from NSW, 15 from QLD, 14 from WA, 10 from SA, 7 from TAS, 5 from the ACT, and 5 from the NT. The full list of recipients are listed online.

In their own words below, Bernadette Black and Erin Dolan share more on their plans and what this opportunity means to their work.

Bernadette Black, Founder and CEO of SEED Futures

Sir Winston Churchill didn’t want statues as his legacy, but human beings to learn from other countries to strengthen their own. When I found out I was a recipient, my first thought was about the future generations – not statues – whose lives will be set to flourish due to this incredible fellowship. I am oscillating between joy and ‘passionate responsibility’.

In Australia, our systems can exacerbate and hold people in disadvantage, costing us socially and economically. One child every hour (one baby every six), enters Out of Home Care. We are missing a huge window of opportunity to nurture expecting and early parents through primary prevention, before intergenerational disadvantage takes hold.

I will learn how other governments and philanthropy fund long-term primary preventative programs, as well as how they move universal approaches, such as Centrelink, to a primary preventative and nurturing frame.

I am travelling to five countries, learning from the Nordic Council of Ministers, with its vision that the Nordic region is the best place in the world for children to grow up, the inaugural Future Generations Commissioner in Wales, and I’ll be attending the United Nations Second World Summit for Social Development.

On my return, I will share my findings with our governments, philanthropy and the public through a speaking tour, as well as publish my report and book – ‘Flourishing Future Generations – our greatest hope.’

It’s been a long road since my own teenage parenting story, I can’t wait to write this part of history with you all.

Erin Dolan, Senior Program Manager, Homelessness & Affordable Housing at the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. Erin is also Chair of the Affordable Housing Funders Network at Philanthropy Australia.

I will be travelling to Austria, Canada, Ireland, Spain and the USA to investigate international housing funds to increase affordable housing in Australia.

Through this Fellowship, I want to import a circuit-breaker that will change the way we develop housing to make it more affordable.

Australia is in a housing crisis with rents and house prices at an all-time high. Charitable developers struggle to provide below-market housing due to the high cost of land, materials, labour – and finance. I want to reduce the cost of financing to create more affordable housing.

Examples from overseas show that low or no-interest loans can reduce the cost of housing. While banks focus on commercial returns, a housing fund supported by philanthropy can focus on social outcomes.  A housing fund is a way for philanthropy to support housing more effectively. As a revolving fund, loans can be recycled and used over again to help more and more charitable developers.

In partnership with other funders, I’m aiming to use my learnings to create Australia’s first philanthropic housing fund. This fund will increase the supply of affordable housing as well as enable innovators using alternative housing models who are unable to attract commercial loans. It will also help difficult to fund cohorts, such as young people who cannot afford higher rents.

These housing funds work overseas. I want to know why – and then apply these learnings in Australia.

I am excited, and very honoured to receive a Churchill Fellowship. The process was highly competitive and challenging. I had many people in the philanthropic and housing sectors help me, including past Fellows – so am thankful for the support.

Next week, Philanthropy Weekly will hear from Em Scott on her plans for the Fellowship.