About

The Gary Sansom Scholarship was established in honour of former AgriFutures Chicken Meat Advisory Panel Chair and Australian Chicken Meat Federation President, Gary Sansom, who himself was a great leader of the chicken meat industry. Mr Sansom was a long-standing supporter of programs encouraging new people into the chicken meat industry and championed several communication and training initiatives vital to the industry. This Scholarship in his name aims to do just that, encourage new people into the chicken meat industry and support them in building a thriving career. It aligns with Mr Sansom’s vision for the industry – ensuring it is valued and respected by all sectors and the Australian community, while also fostering leadership in the research community.

The prestigious Gary Sansom Scholarship will seek to identify high-quality students, foster a career pathway in the chicken meat industry and support industry-relevant research. Worth up to $30,000, the Scholarship is broken down per level of study as follows.

• Honours – $10,000 per year for 1 year
• Masters – $10,000 per year for 2 years
• PhD – $10,000 per year for 3 years

Each scholar is also provided with additional support and opportunities:

• Attendance at poultry industry conferences
• An industry supervisor (coordinated by AgriFutures Australia) who will provide study and career pathway support
• Connecting with industry members and networking opportunities throughout the Scholarship period.

Who can apply

The successful candidate will be a broad thinker; someone who wants to contribute to the Australian chicken meat industry long term. We are looking for people who want to make a difference in the chicken meat industry by conducting research that can be readily applied by the industry. We are also looking for people who want to contribute to the industry by providing leadership in the future.

Applicants must be an Australian citizen or resident and enrolled or eligible to enrol at an Australian University undertaking postgraduate study (PhD, Masters or Honours degree or equivalent). In addition, students must be willing to have a member of the Australian chicken meat industry as a supervisor and have a desire to contribute to the Australian chicken meat industry in the long term.

If any study is undertaken below or above full-time enrolment in a semester (including summer and winter sessions), the student is required to seek approval from AgriFutures Australia. The successful candidate may also hold a postgraduate award (that would be rescinded if successful) but be no more than halfway through the chosen course of study. The award is also available to future students, who have not begun their postgraduate studies but are eligible for enrolment in the chosen degree.

Students with an interest in, and commitment to, the chicken meat industry are encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Before you apply

Please ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions, and that you meet the essential eligibility criteria before beginning your application.

As part of the application process, students are required to outline why they want to contribute to the Australian chicken meat industry, and what they want to gain from the Scholarship. As well as meeting all eligibility requirements of the Scholarship, students will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Academic achievement
• AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program and industry alignment
• Research proposal and design
• Benefits to the chicken meat industry.

It is recommended that applicants familiarise themselves with the industry-defined research priorities outlined in the AgriFutures Chicken Meat RD&E Plan (2022-2027) before submitting their application.

Applications for the 2025 Gary Sansom Scholarship close on 31 January 2025.

Apply now

Timeline

Applicants will be short-listed following the assessment of the written applications. Those who are short-listed will be required to participate in an interview with the scholarship assessment committee. Two referees must be nominated to support the application.

Successful student requirements

The successful student will be required to:

• Remain enrolled in the student’s degree;
• Maintain full-time enrolment;*
• Remain eligible for a Commonwealth Supported place at the University (this means the student must be an Australian citizen or the holder of an Australian Permanent Humanitarian or Permanent Resident visa) and be residing in Australia;
• Achieve a credit average standard of academic progress;**
• Attend poultry conferences facilitated by AgriFutures;
• Promote the aims, ideals and objectives of AgriFutures Australia and of the Scholarship;
• Ensure positive recognition and linkages to AgriFutures Australia via personal and project social media platforms;
• Submit academic progress reports to AgriFutures Australia.

*If any study is undertaken below or above full-time enrolment in a semester (including summer and winter sessions), the student is required to seek approval from AgriFutures Australia. AgriFutures Australia scholarships are tenable for 3 years’ study at an Australian University or the length of the degree (i.e., the remainder of a partially-completed degree, 2 years for a 2 year Masters’ Degree or more than 3 years if the student has sought and received approval from AgriFutures Australia to study part-time or take leave).

** The student must provide copies of academic transcripts showing academic results each semester to AgriFutures Australia and acknowledges that AgriFutures Australia may verify any of the student’s results with the University at any time. If the student fails one or more units, the student is required to contact AgriFutures Australia immediately.

Contact

Stacey Gardiner
Coordinator, Levied & Emerging Industries – Chicken Meat

0447 036 709