The Australia Awards Fellowships Round 21 is a prestigious, fully funded international capacity-building program designed to strengthen partnerships between Australian organisations and overseas counterpart organisations (OCOs) in eligible developing countries. Managed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this fellowship supports short- to medium-term professional development activities aligned with Australia’s development and foreign policy priorities.
This comprehensive guide explains who can apply, fellow eligibility, eligible countries, priority development areas, mandatory compliance criteria, key dates, and how to apply—making it an essential resource for institutions planning to submit a competitive proposal.
What Are Australia Awards Fellowships?
Australia Awards Fellowships are non-degree, fully funded professional development programs that enable Australian organisations to host cohorts of senior officials and mid-career professionals from eligible developing countries. The goal is to build leadership, technical skills, and institutional capacity while strengthening long-term partnerships between Australia and partner countries.
Fellowships can include:
- In-Australia training and study components
- In-partner country activities
- Online or blended learning elements
The total fellowship duration can range from 2 weeks to 52 weeks, depending on program design.
Who Can Apply for Australia Awards Fellowships?
Eligible Applicants
Only Australian Organisations can apply for an Australia Awards Fellowship. Individuals are not eligible to apply directly.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a legal Australian entity with a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Apply in partnership with one or more Overseas Counterpart Organisations (OCOs) located in eligible developing countries
- Demonstrate a genuine partnership with OCOs, including in-kind and/or financial co-contribution
- Submit the application through an employee of the Australian organisation
Examples of Eligible Australian Organisations
Eligible organisations include, but are not limited to:
- Universities and higher education providers
- Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers
- Research institutes and centres
- Private sector companies
- Non-government organisations (NGOs)
- Professional associations and industry bodies
- Media organisations
- Community groups and peak bodies
- Australian chambers of commerce
Additionally, the following government entities are eligible:
- Australian Government departments (Federal, State/Territory, and Local)
- Government agencies and statutory authorities
- Government Business Enterprises
Rules for Overseas Counterpart Organisations (OCOs)
OCOs play a critical role but cannot be applicants. They must:
- Operate and reside in an eligible developing country
- Be a legally recognised organisation (not individuals)
- Not be an international branch or arm of the Australian organisation
- Not fall under the same international consortium or overarching organisation as the Australian applicant
Importantly, new or emerging partnerships with OCOs are welcomed and will be considered.
Fellow Eligibility Criteria
Australia Awards Fellowships specifically target senior officials and mid-career professionals who are well positioned to influence development outcomes upon returning home.
Australian Host Organisations (AHOs) are responsible for ensuring that all nominated Fellows meet the following requirements.
General Eligibility Requirements for Fellows
Fellows must:
- Be at least 18 years old at the time of commencement
- Not be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or applicants for Australian citizenship (including dual citizenship involving Australia)
- Not be applying for Australian permanent residency
- Be a citizen of and residing in an eligible developing country (citizenship and residency may differ)
- Not be current serving military personnel
- Not be married to, engaged to, or in a de facto relationship with someone who holds or is eligible for Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency
- Have been working in their country of citizenship or residency in a field relevant to the fellowship prior to commencement
- Meet all Australian Department of Home Affairs visa requirements
- Be able to participate full-time for the entire fellowship duration
- Be able to travel without family members, as DFAT does not fund dependents
- Have an adequate level of English language proficiency to fully participate in program activities
English Language Considerations
While there is no fixed test requirement, AHOs must ensure English proficiency is sufficient. Where necessary, support measures such as interpretation services may be provided, although DFAT discourages translation for multi-country fellowships where learning outcomes may be compromised.
Eligible Countries
Australia Awards Fellowships are open to participants from a wide range of Official Development Assistance (ODA)-eligible countries across several regions.
Pacific
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Wallis and Futuna
Southeast Asia
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Lao PDR
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
South Asia and Middle East
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- India
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Iraq
- Jordan
- State of Palestine
Africa
- Botswana
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Caribbean
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
Europe
- Ukraine
Priority Development Areas
Every fellowship proposal must align with one of six DFAT priority areas:
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Resilience, and Green Energy Transition
- Includes renewable energy and critical minerals
- Health
- Public health systems, policy, and service delivery
- Gender Equality, Disability Equity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
- Digital Economy, Cyber Resilience, and Media Engagement
- Maritime and the Blue Economy
- Infrastructure and Connectivity
Strong applications clearly demonstrate how the fellowship will deliver measurable development outcomes in one of these areas.
Application Compliance Criteria (Mandatory)
Applications will not proceed to assessment unless all mandatory criteria are met:
- Application submitted in the specified format
- Applicant is a legal Australian entity with a valid ABN
- Applicant is not an individual or OCO
- Submitting officer is an employee of the Australian organisation
- Organisation has not exceeded six applications
- No more than 15 DFAT-funded Fellows per application
- Activities involve only eligible countries
- Application includes an Australian organisation co-contribution
- In-partner country activity is included
- Proposal aligns with one priority development area
- Minimum of two weeks delivered in Australia
- Total fellowship duration is 2–52 weeks
- In-Australia component is longer than in-partner country activity
- OCOs are from eligible ODA-listed countries
- Applicant is not listed under:
- National Redress Scheme non-compliance
- Sanctions or terrorist organisation lists
- World Bank Listing of Ineligible Firms and Individuals
How to Apply
Application Platform
All applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants.
Australian organisations are strongly encouraged to:
- Review the Round 21 Guidelines
- Attend the Industry Information Session
- Ensure partnerships and co-contributions are well documented
Application Link: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-people/australia-awards/australia-awards-fellowships/applying-australia-awards-fellowship
Key Dates for Round 21 (2025–2026)
- 3 November 2025 – Applications open
- 10 November 2025 – Industry Information Session
- 16 January 2026 (11:59pm AEDT) – Applications close
- From July 2026 – Outcome notifications
- September 2026 – 29 March 2028 – Fellowship activity window
- 30 September 2026 – Supplementary Information Form opens
- Six months before mobilisation – Supplementary Information Form closes
- 1 January 2027 – In-Australia activities commence
Why Apply for an Australia Awards Fellowship?
Australia Awards Fellowships offer significant benefits, including:
- Fully funded professional development
- Strengthened institutional and international partnerships
- Long-term development impact in partner countries
- Alignment with Australia’s foreign affairs and aid priorities
- Access to Australian expertise, innovation, and networks
For Australian organisations, these fellowships are a powerful tool to expand global engagement, build regional influence, and support sustainable development outcomes.
Conclusion
The Australia Awards Fellowships Round 21 is a highly competitive and impactful opportunity for Australian organisations committed to international development, skills transfer, and long-term partnerships. By aligning with priority areas, building strong OCO relationships, and meeting all compliance requirements, applicants can significantly improve their chances of success.
If your organisation works across education, health, climate change, digital transformation, infrastructure, or social inclusion, this fellowship round represents an exceptional opportunity to make a lasting global impact.
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