Every year the AES offers grants to emerging Indigenous evaluators from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean to support their participation in the annual AES Annual International Evaluation Conference.
Frequently asked questions
The conference support grants support First Nations evaluators to participate in strengthening the knowledge base of the evaluation sector and to further develop their own capacities in evaluation with First Nations people and communities.
- The grant covers registration for the conference and conference workshops.
- Up to $2000 may be available to contribute to travel and accommodation expenses.
Applications are welcomed from emerging Indigenous evaluators who are one of the following:
- Community-based evaluators with little, or no formal, or academic training
- Community leaders or other community members who have been involved in evaluation or participatory action research projects and have something to share, or who want to know more about evaluation
- Postgraduate students who wish to develop a career in evaluation
- Professionals who have recently started working in, or about to start working, in evaluation and wish to share their experience and gain further understanding and skills in a supportive conference environment.
Applications will be considered from emerging evaluators from the following groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Australia
- Māori living in Aotearoa / New Zealand
- Pacific Island peoples (including those living in Aotearoa / New Zealand)
- Native East Timorese people.
At least one grant will be reserved for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander evaluator who meets the assessment criteria.
In general, applicants must demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, working in the area of ethically and methodologically sound, and culturally appropriate Indigenous evaluation, be either currently involved in evaluation activity or wish to be in the future and demonstrate an interest in strengthening their own evaluation capacity and contribute to the wider development of Indigenous people, organisations and communities. The AES particularly encourages emerging evaluators from rural, remote and isolated communities to apply. Application are assessed against a set of criteria which are set out on the Application page.
The applications are assessed by the Conference Support Grants selection panel which is comprised of AES members with experience in Indigenous evaluation, including past grants recipients. Membership on the panel is endorsed by the AES Board.
The AES Office provides some support and might be able to organise a mentor for you if you require further assistance in putting together your application.
You can submit your application via: online; or email (PDF form); or over the phone. If you choose the phone option, we arrange for a call-back and assist you in filling in the application with you over the phone.
To start your application click on the 'Apply now' link – this will take you to the annual conference website where you will find all relevant information and the application form.
Yes, the application must be endorsed by two referees who have worked alongside or supervised the work of the applicant in the field of evaluation. Referees may also be supervising postgraduate student work in evaluation and can verify the benefits of their students attending the conference.
