Application for the Joan Southgate Southern Africa-Australasia Collaboration Award to open on 1 March 2026
Elma Marais
Dear SAWMA members,
As most of you are aware, SAWMA and the Australasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) have had a long-time affiliation. Thanks to the affiliation, SAWMA registered members are eligible to apply for the Joan Southgate Southern Africa-Australasia Collaboration Award. The award is intended for students and early-career researchers in the Australasian/South African region.
Although applications for the award only open on 1 March, please find more information below. If you qualify and are interested, you may begin preparing your motivation and submit your application between 1 March and 30 April. Feel free to visit https://awms.org.au/ to read more about the AWMS, their activities and the awards they offer.
Award Value
The award is available annually to members who need assistance with travel to the affiliate country for study. Funds are available for travel, living expenses and accommodation. Up to a maximum of AUD$5,000 plus support of registration fees for attendance of either an AWMS or SAWMA annual conference.
Selection Criteria
The principles to guide the selection of successful recipients from the fund are:
(1) The travel will assist in sharing knowledge and skills in some aspect of conservation management between the two southern hemisphere regions.
(2) The travel for study should endeavour to provide broad-scale, low-intensity management solutions for the conservation of wildlife.
To be considered for this Award, the applicant must:
- Be a Masters, PhD student enrolled in a course related to wildlife management at a University or other tertiary institution, or an early career researcher in the Australasian/ Southern Africa region (Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean).
- Be a financial member of AWMS or SAWMA, for at least a year, at the time the application for the travel grant is submitted.
- Submit a two-page summary of the proposed project outlining how the study will address the selection principles, the benefits the work provides to both the applicant the field of study, and how the project will be delivered.
- Complete an AWMS Joan Southgate Declaration form (signed and dated by the applicant and the Head of their Faculty/School/Organisation).
- Provide a statement of approval or support and authorisation for the applicant to undertake the research, signed by an appropriate representative of the host organisation.
At the conclusion of their travel grant, Award recipients must provide the following documentation:
- A 500-word report of their study program/work experience to the AWMS/SAWMA Committee within one month of the completion of their travel grant.
- A report on their study program/work experience in the AWMS/SAWMA communications immediately following the completion of their travel grant.
- A presentation at the AWMS or SAWMA annual conference immediately following the completion of their travel grant.
Selection Process
Please ensure you scan your completed declaration form along with your two-page summary and statement of approval or support into one document before beginning your online application.
Applicants for the study grant program will be assessed according to the quality of their applications (written communication, clear goals for the proposed study/work experience program, and provision of evidence that the study/work program is feasible), and the benefit the program will provide for their professional development in wildlife management.
Selection Committee
The award winners will be decided by the AWMS awards selection committee.
The selection committee’s decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Conditions of Entry
AWMS reserves the right not to award a grant (or grants) in any year if the entries are judged not to reach a minimum standard of quality of application, and/or benefit for the applicant’s professional development in wildlife management.
Kind regards,
Elma
Elma Marais
Southern African Wildlife Management Association
PO Box 217
Bloubergstrand
7436
Ph: +27 713523226
Email: off...@sawma.co.za
Website: www.sawma.co.za
