Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship

The Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship is offered every four years and provides financial support for a woman to investigate social problems or study in the field of social science in Australia and overseas.

You'll need an awareness of social science topics of current relevance to South Australia, and your topic must be current and relevant.

In the spirit of Catherine Helen Spence’s legacy, please explore her work and present a thoughtful response that reflects her values in relation to this criterion.

This portrait of Catherine Helen Spence
is from the State Library of South Australia
Portrait Collection, Ref B11192

The purpose of this scholarship is to investigate contemporary issues in the field of social science.

Social science is a broad criterion and you're encouraged to review the breadth of research topics covered by previous scholars before determining if you can present your work as social science.

Previous winners of the Catherine Helen Spence scholarship

You'll need an awareness of social science topics of current relevance to South Australia. You also must present your topic as being of current relevance and be able to provide your own argument regarding applicability and benefit to contemporary South Australian society.

In the spirit of Catherine Helen Spence's legacy, you're encouraged to research the work of Catherine Helen Spence and provide a considered response to this criterion.

You're eligible to apply if, on the application closing date, you:

• are a woman between the age of 20 and 35*
• live in South Australia
• have lived in South Australia for at least five years immediately prior to the awarding of the scholarship*
• will be able to commence the scholarship project by February 2026 or earlier
• will be able to carry out and complete the research project within 18 months of commencement - by August 2027.
• will be using the scholarship to investigate or study contemporary issues in the field of social sciences relevant to South Australian social conditions.

You don't need to be currently employed, studying or attached to an organisation or institution to apply.

The scholarship may be combined with a PhD, Masters, Honours or other degree study.

* The committee may, at its discretion, award the scholarship to a woman who is resident in South Australia at the time of selection but does not fulfil the requirements in relation to age or length of residence in the state.

Before you start your application you must:

• decide what you want to investigate or study
• have a full resume
• have proof of any qualifications identified in your application - please provide a scanned copy of any qualifications
• have investigated the ethics, community or other formal approvals required to undertake the research prior to commencement
• outline your research aims (up to 200 words)
• explain why the research is needed (up to 200 words)
• provide the methodology and approach you'll use for your research (up to 500 words)
• give a description of your research project (up to 2000 words)
• outline your expected outcomes (up to 250 words)
• provide a bibliography
• provide a statement of relevance - how your proposal is relevant to the scholarship (up to 100 words)
• give your budget projection, including three to four periodic payments and timelines
• provide the details of three referees' names, phone and email contacts and current and relevant previous positions held
• indicate which aspects of your work and project your referees can comment.

If you're successful you must:

• establish a dedicated bank account for the scholarship and make these records available to the committee if required
• be able to seek the ethics approvals required to undertake the research prior to commencement of the research project (the committee may be able to provide some assistance with this)
• commence the research project in or before the date stipulated
• provide progress updates as negotiated with the committee
• provide a final written report of about 20,000 words to the committee in both printed and electronic form within 18 months after commencement of the project
• ensure the Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship is acknowledged in all publications and presentations as a source of funding
• be available for events as required
• discuss media responses with the committee.

Final report

A copy of the final report will be lodged with the Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship records in State Records of South Australia and at the State Library of South Australia.  An electronic version may also be lodged on the Catherine Helen Spence Scholarship page of the SA.GOV.AU website.

The committee has the right to distribute the final report, and you're encouraged to disseminate your findings.

You must be able to manage the funds to ensure you're able to complete the process, including the preparation and printing of the final report.

All applications must include a comprehensive budget outlining reasonable costs and proposed expenditure timeline.

Travel, accommodation and expenses incurred as part of the research are likely to be covered by the budget.

Partner and/or family travel and accommodation is not supported by the budget.

Living expenses incurred in field work can be calculated using the ATO guidelines for per diem payments. Please use the PDF on the website for the most current information.

The budget does not cover a salary or stipend.

The cost of printing approximately 10 copies of the final report should be included in the budget.

Any changes to the budget once the scholarship is awarded must be approved in writing by the Scholarship Committee.

Funds will be transferred periodically to your dedicated bank account by the Public Trustee on the recommendation of the chair of the committee. Each payment must be acquitted by the presentation of receipts for expenses incurred.

If you're unable to fulfil the requirements, the committee has the right to reconsider and offer the scholarship to an alternative candidate, short-listed in the application process.

Reasons for inability to fulfil the requirements may be:

• lack of ethics approval
• incapacity due to illness.

Any unspent funds must be returned.

Related information

• Previous winners
• Catherine Helen Spence - Library Guide
• Women and Politics in South Australia
• Australian Dictionary of Biography
• Australian Women's History Network Blog