Australian Science Policy Fellowship

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol48 Issue15 17–21 April 2023

The program seeks to strengthen the science-policy interface by bringing science and technology expertise into public policy processes and bringing experience of government processes and policymaking into academia.

Up to 20 Fellowships may be offered each year based on a competitive selection process.

Previous Fellows have worked in diverse policy fields, such as the Critical Technologies Hub in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Medical Devices and Product Quality in the Department of Health and Ageing; Research Programs and Policy in the Department of Education; and Plant Systems & Strategies in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The Program Offers a Range Of Benefits To Participants

We Are Looking For People Who
Our ideal candidate will have significant scientific expertise and an interest in gaining policy development and delivery experience.

What You Will Do
Over the course of the program, Fellows will be embedded within a department and given exposure to policymaking and policy delivery processes. Roles vary depending on the placements available within host departments. Some Fellows may complete two 6-month rotations during their Fellowship year.

Fellows are not selected for their subject-matter expertise, but rather for their transferrable skills that can be applied to policy development and delivery. Fellows may be placed in areas relevant to their expertise where available; however, others will work in areas unrelated to their academic background.

Host departments are expected to support Fellows in their professional development, including through formal training opportunities and mentoring.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Science Policy Fellowship Program you must:

Security Clearance
Fellowship positions require a minimum baseline security clearance. Some positions will require higher clearance levels. The successful applicants will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the required level. This is not necessary at time of application.

How To Apply
To apply you must:

Application Timeline
The application process will run over a number of months. It can take three to four months from the time applications open to successful candidates being notified.

Candidates that are successful in first‑round interviews will be invited to attend a second interview with their potential host department manager and a representative of the selection panel.

Contact information
For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact ocs-projects@chiefscientist.gov.au.