Applications must be supported by three referees' reports, commenting on the applicant's academic/professional qualifications, character, adaptability and the significance and feasibility of his/her proposal.

The award includes a travel and a monthly stipend allowance for the first year only. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient additional funds to provide adequate financial support for themselves and any dependants during their stay in the United States.

General awards open to all professional fields

The Commission will provide one general Professional Award in 2002. This award is for a person who is working as a practitioner in any of the professional fields.

Preference will be given to those who have a record of achievement and are poised for advancement to a senior management or policy role. Programs must include an academic component such as a short-course, and may involve other forms of professional experience, including visits to relevant organisations. While the program may include attending a conference, this does not fulfill the academic requirements of this award. (See Educational Information for Australians Wishing to Study in the U.S.A. for assistance in selecting an institution for your academic component.)

The Fulbright Exchange program was established in 1946 as an initiative of Senator J. William Fulbright of the USA. Following the end of World War II he was committed to the ideal that mutual understanding through international education and exchange would "find ways and means of living in peace". The Fulbright program has promoted educational and cultural exchange between America and over 140 countries throughout the world over the past 50 years. Leading international Fulbright scholars have included Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former UN Secretary General; Ruth Cardoso, scholar and former First Lady of Brazil; Milton Friedman, economist; Phillip Glass, composer; Roslyn Yalow, Nobel Prize in medicine; and Umberto Eco, writer.

The Australian Fulbright program was established through a Binational Treaty in 1949. Since then almost 2,500 Australians and over 1,700 Americans have been awarded prestigious Fulbright scholarships to study, research and travel in the respective countries.

Noted Australian Fulbright winners include The Hon Justice Robert Nicholson, Federal Court of Australia; Dr Keith Boardman AO, former Chief Executive CSIRO; Dr David Kemp, Minister of Education, Training and Youth Affairs; Christopher Kosh, author; Sir Ronald Wilson AC KBE CMG QC, former Judge, High Court of Australia and Chancellor Murdoch University; and Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE, Chancellor of La Trobe University.

Each year, up to 25 awards are made to Australian Post-Graduate Students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Professionals and Senior Scholars. Awardees range from the traditional fields of law, engineering and science to the visual and performing arts.

Social Justice activist, Rev Father Frank Brennan AO, received a Fulbright scholarship to the highly respected Georgetown Law Centre at Georgetown University in Washington DC. "What you can’t underestimate is the wonderful opportunity it (being a Fulbrighter) gives you in opening doors to academic institutes and social institutions in the US", he said. "As a Fulbright Scholar, everyone immediately understands what you mean and extends you a hospitality automatically".

Funding for Fulbright awards in Australia is provided by the Australian and American Governments, along with a range of privately sponsored awards from organisations including the Australian National Training Authority, ATSIC, BHP, Clough Engineering, Pratt Industries, and the Victorian WorkCover Authority.

The program also supports the Australian Fulbright (Alumni) Association (AFA), patroned by former Governor General, Rt Hon Sir Zelman Cowen, PC, AK, GCMG, GCVO, QC, DCL, which hosts visiting Fulbrighters and continues to promote mutual understanding.

Applications for Australian scholarships open on July 1st each year.

The competition opens on July 1 and closes on August 31 each year.

National selections are conducted in November 2001

Candidates are notified in December 2001