What are the eligibility criteria?
- Applicants must be a student enrolled in any UNSW degree by coursework (both full-time or part-time permitted). Strong priority will be given to students in their penultimate year of study with a demonstrated interest in human rights and/or development work.
- Applicants must have at least one subject to complete upon return from their Fellowship Program.
- Applicants must have a WAM of 70+ at the time of applying.
- Applicants must have the ability to complete the fellowship without compromising their studies, including assessments and examination periods.
- Applicants must be willing to provide testimonials about the fellowship experience for use in Institute communications and promotions, including photos and/or videos of their time at the host organisation.
- Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in human rights and/or development issues.
How do I apply?
Applications for 2024/25 fellowships open 5 August, 2024. The below supporting documents will be required to attach to your application:
- CV – up to date, including your education, professional and volunteer experience etc. (max 2 pages)
- Cover letter – outlining your reasons for applying for the fellowship program; your preferences with a justification; your interest in the work and mission of each organisation you are applying for; and your human rights/international development study or work experience. (Max. 500 words in length)
- Academic transcript
What are the key dates for 2024/25?
- Monday, 5 August – applications open
- 5pm Sunday, 1 September – applications close
- Mid-late September – shortlisted interviews
- October – successful candidates notified
- Mid-late November – Global Student Fellowship Information session
- December 2024 – February 2025 – Fellowship period
What are the 2024/25 fellowship opportunities?
The Australian Human Rights Institute aims to ensure students receive a meaningful experience developing their skills for future employment. The projects will vary depending on current host organisation activities. Students will often be required to work independently, so a certain level of autonomy is required.
Multiple fellowship opportunities are available and applicants are asked to clearly preference their choices in their cover letter. Please make sure you check the details for each opportunity below and that you are available to participate in the fellowship as outlined.
Blue Dragon Children's Foundation - Hanoi, Vietnam
Start date: Early December. The organisation is working over Christmas, and closed for New Year's Day, 1 January 2025.
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam for a minimum of three weeks and maximum of 30 days, working remotely for the remainder of the fellowship.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible.
Tasks: The fellow will likely be part of Blue Dragon’s newly formed Anti-Trafficking Department, working on research to inform Blue Dragon’s counter trafficking work and the development of an advocacy strategy. More specifically, the fellow will assist with a systematic review of best practices/evaluations of CTIP projects, and may also assist with a political economy analysis of the anti-trafficking landscape in Vietnam to inform the development of a government advocacy plan. Vietnamese language skills would be an asset but are not required.
Human Rights Watch Australia - Sydney, Australia
Start date: January 2025
Location: Mix of Sydney office and remote. Two-three days in the office per week.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible.
Tasks: Working closely with the Australia team, the Fellow will undertake research, analysis, and outreach tasks to assist ongoing research on human rights in the region, with a particular focus on Australia.
Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI) - Jakarta, Indonesia
Start date: Flexible, December or January
City/office: Jakarta, likely with regional travel
Engagement type: In-office, some flexibility
Full-time/part-time: Full-time preferred, with flexibility
Tasks: The fellow will support research, policy and advocacy work across the IOJI portfolio, which includes maritime security and access to justice, sustainable and equitable ocean policy, looking at protection of migrant workers/fishers working on foreign work vessels, sustainable ocean economies, and protection of marine environments.
International Organization for Migration | UN Migration – various locations, Thailand
Start date: The start date will depend on the unit and manager for each opportunity and will be coordinated between the successful fellow and the host organisation.
Location: Various locations. Please refer to fellowship unit opportunities below. Fellows are asked to complete at least three weeks in-office in country, ideally at the beginning of the fellowship.
Full-time/part-time: Engagement will depend on the unit/team the fellow is engaging with. Please refer to details below.
Tasks: There are multiple opportunities available for successful fellows within IOM. There is one fellowship available per unit.
1. In close coordination with the Head of Sub-Offices, covering different IOM Thematic areas including preparedness and response, protection, resettlement, etc. tasks will include conducting surveys and interviews with NGOs in Mae Sot to identify potential solutions to support vulnerable migrants' basic needs in Tak province.
Location: Mae Sot, Thailand.
Full-time/part-time: full time.
2. Migration Data and Research Unit: tasks may include conducting a literature/documentary review and proposing a methodology on a topic related to the economic contribution of migrants in Thailand, related research activities, and participating in day-to-day activities of the unit including and contributing to meeting discussions.
Location: Bangkok, Thailand.
Full-time/part-time: Full time while on site, option for part-time for the remainder of the fellowship.
3. Migration Health Unit (MHU): tasks may include supporting research on major public health topics related to migrants in Thailand and main challenges to healthcare access, planning and implementation of migration health activities and coordination and networking with stakeholders and partners, with focus on advocacy and health policy.
Location: Bangkok.
Full-time/part-time: Part-time preferred
4. Protection Unit: tasks may include (i)supporting ongoing research on trafficking for forced criminality in South-East Asia, (ii) the development of communications materials relating to countertrafficking and migrant protection, (iii) supporting data consolidation and analysis for monitoring and evaluation, and (iv) reporting for programming on return and reintegration of vulnerable migrants.
Location: Bangkok.
Full-time/part-time: Part-time preferred
5. Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Unit: tasks will include the development and maintenance of a user-friendly, sector specific, human rights due diligence database. The database will capture information relevant to labour migration in Thailand such as national legislation, migration trends, risks to migrant workers, information about recruitment fees and costs, employment contracts, remediation provided to migrant workers, and other information as relevant.
Location: Bangkok.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible
Jubilee Australia - Sydney, Australia
Start date: Early December. The organisation will shut down over the Christmas-New Year period (25 December - 2 January).
Location: Mix of Sydney office and remote working. The fellow will be able to work from the Sydney office for one day (maybe two) per week throughout their fellowship.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible.
Tasks: The fellow will undertake research support and capacity to Jubilee's climate justice work. This will mean working on areas including: ending public finance for fossil fuels; preventing new fossil gas developments in the region (especially PNG); how energy transition minerals mining (mining for the renewable energy transition) can be done in more socially and environmentally sustainable ways.
Justice and Equity Centre (formerly PIAC) - Sydney, Australia
Start date: Flexible. The organisation will shut down over the Christmas-New Year period (25 December -2 January).
Location: Mix of Sydney office and remote working. The fellow will be able to work from the office throughout their fellowship.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible.
Tasks: The fellow will support the Justice and Equity Centre’s Policy and Advocacy team, through strategic planning, research, engagement and advocacy on current priority projects, including campaigns to improve the protections offered by Commonwealth and NSW anti-discrimination laws, and to raise the age of criminal responsibility in NSW.
Australian Human Rights Commission - Sydney, Australia
Start date: Flexible, December suggested. The Commission will shut down from 24 December 2024 to 2 January 2025.
Location: Flexible. Sydney CBD office with usual office days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Full-time/part-time: Flexible
Tasks: The fellow will join the Disability Rights Team, which supports the Disability Discrimination Commissioner in fulfilling her mandate and term goals. Work will involve preparing briefing materials, research, developing policy positions, writing correspondence, and participating in stakeholder engagement on all current priority projects, including planning for (potential) reform of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), monitoring implementation of the CRPD in Australia, and advocacy around de-segregation of people with disability.
Amnesty International Australia - Sydney, Australia
Start date: 2nd December. EOY holidays from 25th-31st. The manager and many staff members will be on leave in January. The fellow will work remotely more during this period.
City/office: Sydney
Engagement type: Mix of in-office and remote. In-office days are flexible. To be discussed with the manager
Full-time/part-time: Flexible
Tasks: The fellow will assist the Strategic Campaigns team by conducting research and preparing drafts such as policy briefs, newsletters, and parliamentary submissions. These materials will support our campaigns for Indigenous justice, refugee rights, the Human Rights Act, the right to protest, and various international human rights issues. The fellow will also assist the campaigners with their work in the lead-up to the 2025 Federal elections.
Engineers Without Borders Australia - Multiple locations
Start date: Flexible over December or January. The Melbourne, Port Vila, and Dili offices shut down between 25 December-1 January.
City/office: Multiple: Melbourne, Dili, Phnom Penh, Port Vila.
Engagement type: Preferably in-office for overseas locations; or mix of in-office and remote for Australia-based placements.
Full-time/part-time: Part-time, full-time or flexible.
Tasks: Working closely with staff in the relevant EWB office, the fellow will support EWB Country Programs' work in areas such as policy analysis, research or case studies, project management, project evaluation, or media and content development. While each office location works on projects across all themes, each country office has a different portfolio focus:
Vanuatu - climate action;
Timor-Leste - water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as women in engineering;
Cambodia - accessible agriculture;
Melbourne – engaging with all country offices day-to-day.
How long is the fellowship?
Fellowships are for a period of no less than six weeks and will take place during the university summer break. The start and end dates of each fellowship period can vary depending on the host organisation, although all fellowships must be completed prior to the end of February.
Are fellowships in-person or remote?
Fellowships may involve (subject to the agreement of the host organisation) in-person and/or remote participation, but we strongly recommend prioritising in-person participation for at least a portion of the fellowship. For overseas fellowships, students must spend at least three weeks in-country at the beginning of their fellowship.
Are fellowships full-time or part-time?
Whether the fellowship is full-time or part-time (or mixed) is to be discussed with your host organisation and subject to their agreement. In the past, fellows have done a mix of arrangements. Host organisations may state their preference for full-time or part-time, so please consider this when noting your preferences.
What is the fellowship award?
Successful students will receive a $6,500 AU award (no GST).
Students will receive this award via the ER1 Student reimbursement form.
Students will receive the $6,500 award regardless of domestic or international fellowships.
What is the student agreement?
Prior to commencing the fellowship, selected students will be sent a Student Agreement Form to sign. Students are advised to keep a record of this signed agreement for future reference. This agreement will outline the dates of the fellowship, and other key information.
What training do I need to undertake?
Fellows must complete the UNSW Sexual Misconduct training module via Moodle prior to the start of their fellowship. Students will be provided access to the module for completion once the Student Agreement and Information form is signed. Evidence of training completion must be shared with the Institute.
Student Fellows must also be willing to participate in any host organisation induction training including workplace health and safety training.
What do I have to do about visas and permits?
Students travelling overseas for their fellowship may be required to obtain a visa or permit. Students are responsible for organising their own visa or permit. The Institute can provide information on the relevant visas and permits for each fellowship opportunity.
How do I book flights and accommodation?
If you are undertaking a student fellowship overseas, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your own flights and accommodation.
Students will need to obtain pre-trip approval for their trip through the UNSW MyTravel system. The Institute will assist students with this process.
What insurance is required (for both domestic and international fellowships)?
UNSW students are covered by UNSW insurance for both domestic and international fellowships.
When travelling, UNSW students will be covered by UNSW travel insurance after obtaining pre-trip approval via the MyTravel system.
What Institute support is available?
The Institute will be in touch with you throughout your fellowship, and will be on hand to support you with any queries or issues. The Institute Director and Program Manager will meet with all fellows as a group before their fellowships start, mid-way through the fellowship period, and toward the end of the fellowship period.
Are their any other requirements?
Student fellow are required to:
- Perform their duties faithfully and diligently and conduct yourself in accordance with the values and standards of the University;
- Comply with all lawful and reasonable directions given to them by the host organisation;
- Devote their time, attention and skill to the performance of duties during business hours and at other times as reasonably necessary;
- Endeavour to attend all program meetings;
- Be willing to submit a personal profile for the Australian Human Rights Institute website and associated communications;
- Take some photographs and/or video during their fellowship (with permission) which may be used in promotional material;
- Notify the Institute in writing of any changes to their commitments and/or ability to complete the fellowship at any time. By participating in the program, students will join the alumni group of Global Student Fellows and will be invited to Institute events as relevant.
- If a workplace risk issue arises during the fellowship, Fellows must follow the host organisational procedure and let their host organisation supervisor and Institute contact know, if appropriate. If an unforeseen risk issue arises (such as physical injury or sexual misconduct) students should contact their host organisation supervisor and the Institute contact immediately;
- Complete a brief online post-fellowship feedback survey.