Global Voices Policy Fellowship

AgriFutures Australia is committed to supporting the people who drive prosperity of Australian rural industries and communities – not only now, but into the future.

We have an incredible opportunity for eligible alumni of our evokeAG. Groundbreakers (formerly known as Future Young Leaders) program, AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship program and/or Country to Canberra partner program. An AgriFutures-sponsored policy fellowship through Global Voices is a once in a lifetime, all expenses paid industry experience including domestic and international travel to gain practical experience in policy-making and international relations.

About the Global Voices Policy Fellowship

The Global Voices Fellowship Program consists of three elements:

  • Canberra pre-departure briefings
  • Completion of a policy proposal
  • Participation in an international conference (2026 event TBC).

The Program provides participants with dedicated policy-writing workshops, media engagement training, institutional visits, greater cross-cultural awareness, and significant professional networking opportunities. Global Voices offers unparalleled access to high-level diplomatic events for young Australians interested in international policy, intersections between high-level strategic issues, and diplomacy.

Pre-departure briefings

The Pre-Departure briefings are an opportunity for Fellows to gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s role in multilateral fora and priorities for domestic policymaking. The briefings provide Fellows with private meetings with senior government leaders, subject matter and policy experts, esteemed academics, Members of the Australian Parliament, and leaders of civil society and private organisations.

Further, Fellows participate in policy-writing workshops, media engagement training, networking skill-building, and other professional development opportunities. Fellows also meet with their Delegations Manager and are encouraged to set goals and take time to reflect.

The Global Voices Executive Team coordinate all necessary arrangements and provide ongoing mentoring to Fellows to help them get the most out of their time in Canberra.

Policy proposal

Across the course of the Global Voices program, Fellows will develop a 2,500-word policy proposal which proposes practical recommendations on a topic related to the delegation agenda. With the assistance of the Global Voices Delegations Managers, Fellows will conduct their own research into their chosen subject matter, use their first-hand delegation experience to develop their ideas further, and polish off their paper on their return home. Papers that meet the GV Journal standard are then published in our Global Voices Journal and shared with key policy stakeholders and networks so that our Fellows’ work can be celebrated by the broader community.

International Conference (2026 event TBC)

This is a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience spanning roughly one week, tailored specifically to the needs and interests of each delegation group. On delegation, Fellows attend briefing sessions and other related activities run by the official forum hosts. Further, through Global Voice’s extensive network of international connections you’ll also be invited to attend side events and private meetings with subject matter experts and influential world leaders.

On delegation, Fellows will also have some spare time to enjoy the city they are visiting, and most evenings Fellows will enjoy dinner out at a local restaurant and explore their surroundings.

Last year’s international conference was the World Food Forum (WFF), a youth-led initiative organised by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The Forum was held in Rome, Italy from 14 – 18 October 2024.

Learn more about Global Voices at the World Food Forum

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Global Voices Policy Fellowship, you must:

  • Be aged 18 – 30 for the full duration of the program
  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident living in Australia for the full duration of the program
  • Be available for compulsory in-person pre-departure training in Canberra (dates will be listed in the application form)
  • Be available and able to travel for the full duration of the international delegation you are applying for
  • Have the ability to commit at least 5 hours per week to the Fellowship program
  • Currently hold or can obtain a passport well before your delegation’s travel dates
  • Currently hold or can obtain a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months after the end of your delegation’s travel.

To be eligible for an AgriFutures-sponsored position in the program, you must meet all of Global Voices’ eligibility requirements outlined above, in addition to participating in at least one of the following programs:

  • evokeAG. Groundbreakers (formerly known as Future Young Leaders) program, or
  • AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship program, or
  • Country to Canberra partner program.

YOU DO NOT NEED ANY EXPERIENCE IN POLITICS, POLICY OR POLICY WRITING TO APPLY!

Apply

Applications are now closed and will re-open in mid-2025. 

The application process generally requires you to submit:

  • A 500-word policy proposal* addressing a key Australian policy issue^ related to the international conference you will be attending
  • A 500-word personal statement
  • A description of your education and work history
  • Short answer questions on how you manage teamwork, conflict, time, etc.

Find out more about the application process

*You do not need experience in policy or policy writing to apply, however Global Voices suggests you research and prepare your proposal/responses to the application questions in advance. If successful, your proposal will become the basis of your final policy paper and help to familiarise you with the core themes of your international conference.

^Your policy proposal must relate to Australian policy, not another country or international body. 

Fellowship Benefits

If you are successful in receiving a Global Voices Policy Fellowship as an AgriFutures-sponsored participant, you will receive:

  • Support to write and publish a policy proposal that contributes a fresh perspective to domestic and global decision-making
  • All-expenses-paid travel to Canberra for a 3-day departure briefing and upskilling program
  • All-expenses-paid travel to the World Food Forum in Rome (14-18th October) including visas, comprehensive travel insurance, ground transportation, conference registration and accreditation fees, daily breakfasts and select dinners and incidental costs.

Timeline

2026 application timeline TBC.

Contact

If you already have a contact within AgriFutures, please get in touch with them first regarding this opportunity. Otherwise, if you have questions about your eligibility for an AgriFutures-sponsored position, please contact:

Emily Jones
Acting Manager, Capacity Building
emily.jones@agrifutures.com.au
0455 980 310

For more questions about the Policy Fellowship Program, please contact:

Global Voices
info@globalvoices.org.au