Jalwang Scholarship

Previous Jalwang Scholarship Grantees

1. Purpose

The purpose of the award is to support linguists to give back to the community by converting some of their research into materials of benefit to the language speakers, for example by producing community materials in the language or engaging in language maintenance or revitalisation activities. The award aims at supporting researchers who have less access to funding and resources than established academics. This would include support for postgraduate students who would like to take time out from their degree-oriented research in order to develop community materials or other community-oriented outcomes during or after completion of the degree.

The name jalwang is the word for the currawong in the Yugambeh language of Southeast Queensland.

2. Frequency

One Scholarship is available each year.

3. Eligibility

Applicants will typically be either currently enrolled students at a University undertaking an Honours or postgraduate research degree or within two years post-completion of a research higher degree, where the focus of the research has been description and documentation of an Indigenous language of Australia or Melanesia (including eastern Indonesia and Timor Leste). Project proposals from applicants other than current or recent students will also be considered. Applicants whose project proposals satisfy the goals of the Scholarship should make a case in their application.

4. Amount

The Scholarship will provide up to $5,000 to pay for such costs as: travel; accommodation in the field; rent at the applicant’s home base while away; materials production; payments to consultants; and contribution towards additional costs of living while in the field. The Scholarship is not intended to provide a living wage or stipend for the recipient.

5. Note

The Scholarship may not be awarded in any given year if none of the applicants are of a suitable standard (as determined by the panel). A list of recipients will be maintained on the ALS website.

6. Reporting

On completion of the proposed work, successful applicants will be expected to provide a one-page report to the ALS along with a copy of the materials produced, as applicable.

7. Applications

Applicants should apply by completing the online application form. 

Applications will be assessed by a panel of 3 ALS members selected by the President who have interests in field-based linguistics and community engagement. Membership of the panel is determined on a yearly basis. Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Articulation of a clear project concept with concrete and time-limited goals.
• Demonstrated benefit to the language community of the project.
• Originality of the proposed project in addressing a gap not currently addressed and/or tackling a task in a new way.
• Argued capacity of the applicant to produce the specified results with the resources available.
• Provision of a well-justified budget showing value for money against comparable projects.