Fellowships

Dahl Fellowships honour the memory of Bjarne K Dahl. They provide an opportunity for talented and deserving Australians to undertake a project related to eucalypts that is not readily fundable elsewhere.

Current Fellows

The Board of Eucalypt Australia is delighted to announce the 2025 Dahl Fellowships. The Board acknowledges and appreciates all applicants for the 2025 Dahl Fellowships. We are consistently impressed with the diversity of applications, and this year, the quality was exceptionally high.

Jessica Harwood

2025

Jessica Harwood’s fellowship “Our Home Among the Gum Trees: A comic art education project about Australia’s eucalypts and the conservation challenges they face“ has the primary aim of inspiring love for and increasing understanding of Australia’s eucalypts. Jess will produce a suite of educational resources in the comic artform that can be freely used for education to protect and raise awareness of Australia’s eucalypt trees, forests and the biodiversity they support. Jess will make these resources freely available for community groups, teachers, not-for-profits, and individuals wanting to protect remnant forests and street trees. Please keep an eye on socials and contact Eucalypt Australia to access these resources.

Jess is an emerging cartoonist, and her work has already been featured in the Guardian, and appeared in the annual “Behind the Lines” Political Cartoon Exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Government House for 2023. You can follow Jess through her instagram @jessharwoodart

Peter McHugh

2025

Peter McHugh’s fellowship “The Working Forest – telling the story of Victoria’s rich forests and bushfire heritage.“ will see Peter consolidate and advance his documentation of Victoria’s native eucalypt forests and their bushfire heritage over the last two centuries into an e-book format. Peter started this work seven years ago and has amassed considerable research. Social media resources will accompany this. Peter will illustrate the importance of native forests and public lands to Victoria’s economic and social development since the 1850s and the evolving community and political attitudes towards native eucalypt forests and bushfire management, together with the progressive shifts in the balance of their preservation and productive use.

Peter is a retired forester with deep experience in forestry and bushfire emergency management. The Board of Eucalypt Australia feels that this is an important and timely work to complete with the cessation of native timber harvesting in Victoria’s public forests in 2024.

You can follow Peter through his facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/forestcommisionheritage

Vicky Shukuroglou

2025

Vicky Shukuroglou’s fellowship “ACE Guide to Eucalypts Melbourne” acknowledges that identifying eucalypts can be (is) difficult. This project aims to create a locally-specific, compact, user-friendly guidebook for the 33 Indigenous species of eucalypts in the Melbourne area. Following the success of Eucaflip (Tas), and modelled on the ACE Guide to Eucalypts Brisbane, the guide will equip people with local knowledge. This will help people feel more connected to place, make better informed decisions, and be motivated to take protective and regenerative action. The importance of the ecology of eucalypt forests will be highlighted.

The Board saw a practical need for the ACE Guide. Vicky produces some incredible photography, has co-authored “Loving Country” with Bruce Pascoe, and is active in local conservation efforts via Nillumbio, a biodiversity-focused group she co-founded in the Nillumbik Shire. https://www.nillumbio.org

The Board acknowledges and appreciates all applicants for the 2025 Dahl Fellowships. We are consistently impressed with the diversity of applications, and this year, the quality was exceptionally high.

Dahl Fellowship applications

Fellowships will be awarded to individual applicants for individual projects that advance the goals of Eucalypt Australia.

Priority areas for Fellowships are not limited to, but include: art and literature; development of eucalypt education resources, including indigenous cultural resources; and conservation initiatives.

Fellows are required to submit a report at the completion of their Fellowship, using the Dahl Fellowship Completion Report template (Word document).

Eligibility

Selection criteria

Hints and tips

FAQ's

Standard grant conditions

Apply

Key dates

Eligibility

Applicants must be Australian citizens.
Applicants must have an active ABN.
For auditing purposes, Eucalypt Australia only makes awards to applicants with an ABN. If you do not have an ABN you can apply with the Australian Taxation Office, or nominate someone with an ABN who is willing to act as administrator of your Fellowship.
Applicants need to demonstrate experience in and commitment to the field of their project. There are no prescribed qualifications.
Tertiary level student projects (including at Masters and PhD level) will be not be funded.

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed, based on:

Need for the project
Benefits of the project
Achievability
How the project builds on the applicant’s current expertise or experience
Impact and sustainability: how the project will have impact after the Fellowship concludes
The ability and commitment to disseminate the project outcomes
References: a) Project Reference, b) Personal Reference
Curriculum Vitae
Interview. Shortlisted applicants may be required to attend an interview. This may be conducted by phone or online.

Hints and tips

Eligibility – check the criteria to ensure that you are eligible.
Priority Areas – ensure your proposal fits with Eucalypt Australia’s priorities. Please don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Acronyms – assume we don’t know what they mean.
Budget – double-check that your figures add up and your request reflects the full cost of the project.
Be specific – we recommend that you don’t generalise. Include specific facts and figures.
Word limits – it is important we understand your project but please stick to the word limits.
References – we recommend you don’t draft the references for your referees. If they are genuine about supporting your work, they should be able to write the letter themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need an ABN?

Eucalypt Australia only awards grants to individuals or organisations with an ABN. The name of the applicant should match the name of the ABN and the name of the bank account into which the Fellowship will be paid. If you cannot provide an ABN and bank account that are in the same name as the applicant, you will need to nominate an individual or organisation with an ABN who can be the administrator of your Fellowship.

What does the Fellowship cover?

The Fellowship covers costs associated with your project such as salary, materials, and travel.

Can I use the Fellowship to add to support from other sources?

Fellowships are aimed at supporting projects that are not readily fundable. However, we would consider co-contributions.

Can I apply for an extension to lodge my application?

No. Applications close on the published closing date at midnight AEST.

Can I submit multiple applications in one year?

No. Please only submit your best application each year.

Is it possible to receive more than one Fellowship over different years?

Eucalypt Australia would typically only provide a Fellowship to someone once, given that the Fellowship is a means of personally developing an individual in the eucalypt space.

When will I know the outcome of my application?

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You will be notified by 30 September for Fellowships for the following calendar year.

Are there obligations if a Fellowship is awarded?

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A Fellowship is subject to the fellow agreeing to be bound by the conditions laid down in a contract document. The Fellowship is to be completed in the calendar year that it is awarded for.

How and when will I be paid?

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After notification of success, a contract will be sent to you. You will be asked to submit a tax invoice with the signed contract. The full amount of your Fellowship will be paid into your nominated bank account in the December before your fellowship begins.

Can a Fellowship be part-time?

Yes, a Fellowship can be undertaken part-time but must be completed by the end of the calendar year it was awarded for.

Do I have to start my Fellowship by a specific date?

No. You can start anytime in the calendar year it is awarded for.

What are the tax implications?

Eucalypt Australia has no responsibility for the tax liability of a Fellow. Income tax is a matter for decision by the Commissioner of Taxation. It is recommended Fellows seek independent advice with respect to taxation.

Should I include GST in my budget?

If you are GST registered when you receive a Fellowship, Eucalypt Australia will pay the Fellowship amount plus GST. The budget provided in your application should be exclusive of GST.

What do you classify as Eucalyptus trees?

The genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, and Angophora all fit under Eucalypt Australia’s classification of Eucalyptus trees.

Standard grant conditions

The Grantee will supply a tax invoice to Eucalypt Australia in order for the grant to be paid. The invoice should include an ABN and name on the bank account provided must match the ABN.
The Grantee will provide a receipt for the grant amount within 30 days of receipt of payment.
The Grantee will use the whole of the Grant exclusively for the project as described in the application and not for any other purpose.
The Grantee must promptly advise Eucalypt Australia of any material change which may affect the Grantee’s ability to undertake or complete the Project within the time schedule specified in the application.
The Grantee will expend the grant for charitable purposes within Australia.
The Grantee must keep detailed financial records to enable the use of grant funds to be checked readily.
The Grantee will acknowledge the support of Eucalypt Australia in published or display material that relates to the project.
The Grantee must submit a final report and financial acquittal when the project is completed. The report is due within 30 days of the completion date specified in the Fellowship Agreement.
The Fellowship is subject to termination if the Board of the Bjarne K Dahl Trust is of the opinion that continuance is not justified in accordance with the aims and objectives of Eucalypt Australia.

Apply

To apply for a Dahl Fellowship you must complete the following three forms:

Dahl Fellowship Application Form (Word document)
Dahl Fellowship Professional-Personal Reference (Word document)
Dahl Fellowship Project Reference (Word document)

Save your application as a PDF and email to executive@eucalyptaustralia.org.au

You will receive an email confirmation that your application has been received. The office is staffed part-time so the response may not be immediate.

Fellows are required to submit a report at the completion of their Fellowship, using the Dahl Fellowship Completion Report template (Word document).

Key dates

Applications open – Monday, 17 June 2024
Applications close – Tuesday 13 August 2024, midnight AEST
Notification of outcomes – Monday 30 September 2024
Fellowship to be undertaken – during 2025

Past Fellows’ Stories

Samorn Sanixay

2022

My year as a Dahl Fellow has transformed me, in mind and character… Overall, I have gained immense confidence in myself and my work. It allowed me to make quick decisions during uncomfortable situations… It has made me more resilient with the ability to embrace discomfort and to find positivity in any situation. … I’ve gained immense knowledge of eucalypts; seeing them in their natural habitat, especially in Southwest WA, was really special. Standing in the middle of nowhere in Walpole, seeing Corymbia ficifolia in their natural habitat and flowering felt like the first time I went to Paris. I had achieved a lifelong dream.

Samorn has published her astounding Eucalypt Dye Catalogie at https://www.samornsanixay.com/eucalypt-dye-catalogue

Jodi Frawley

2022

My Dahl Fellowship was the highlight of my 2022 working year. I am very proud of the engaging story, rich soundscape and generous interviews that are combined in the final product.

Jodi’s podcast “Maiden’s Eucalypts” is available through ABC National’s “The History Listen” . https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-history-listen/maidens-eucalypts/13982500

This story is set on Worimi and Biripi country in the year 1894. The avid colonial botanist Joseph Maiden is making a trip through the forests around the NSW towns of Stroud and Gloucester and he’s enthralled by the natural world around him. He’s recording every tree, leaf, and plant he encounters, writing it meticulous detail in his journal. Over a century after Maiden made his trip through these forests his journal is taking on a whole new life. With the botanist’s original notes in hand, environmental historian Jodi Frawley retraces Joseph Maiden’s journey.

David Wong

2022

The Dahl Fellowship gave me vital time and resources to be able to develop and realise ideas that I had been thinking about for a long time. What resulted was a project, Woodlands, Forests, Life, that I will continue to build on into the future. Along the way, I got to know local artists and community members passionate about the environment and creativity. I am extremely grateful to have had this opportunity to work on a project that combined my interests in ecology and creativity and that hopefully encouraged people to think about the conservation of eucalypt ecosystems.

Viki Cramer

2021

My Dahl Fellowship has allowed me to take the seedling of an idea – that our eucalypt forests and woodlands might be in trouble – plant it in the ground and nurture the growing sapling with time to travel and talk to eucalypt experts in south-west Australia and beyond. In 2023, this sapling grown up with the support of Eucalypt Australia will mature into full bloom, when the book I am writing on the future of our forests and woodlands will be published by Thames & Hudson.

“The Memory of Trees” is available through all good bookstores. Eucalypt Australia are so excited that Viki has been able to produce this wonderful work.

Phil Docherty

2021

I’m most appreciative of being a Eucalypt Australia fellowship recipient and am revelling in the opportunities it has provided me with in getting to know our Kimberley eucalypts. Apart from a handful I have viewed all of them in situ in their natural state and have a much greater appreciation of their range, the soil and rainfall conditions they prefer as well as being fairly confident in being able to identify them using leaf, bark, flower and fruit. As of this moment in time I’ve collected seed of about 50 species, have propagated about 40 and with the assistance of the community have about 25 species planted out and growing. I’ve been able to share this knowledge via the radio, through displays and by presenting talks. I’ve met plenty of new people, amateur and professional, and are having a thoroughly enjoyable time doing so. Thank you!!

Phil Docherty has also published “Kimberley Eucalypts – A Guide” available via Environs Kimberley here.

Brian Martin

2021

The Dahl Fellowship allowed me to focus on looking at specific eucalypt trees that have been modified by various Indigenous peoples. These included trees from Kamilaroi, Boon Wurrung and WaddaWurrung Country. The research materialised into a series of large charcoal drawings and expanded my artistic practice into drawing these beautiful culturally modified trees. The fellowship allowed me to produce a substantial exhibition of these new works and a catalogue at William Mora galleries.

Dr Dean Nicolle

2020

The Dahl Fellowship grant has allowed me to research, compile, and submit for publication a scientific peer-reviewed paper presenting the findings of my long-term taxonomic research of the semi-cryptic narrow-leaved mallees (Eucalyptus ser. Porantherae). This work is both important and has broad implications, as the correct identification of a species, as well as a sound understanding of its features, distribution, ecology, and conservation status, is essential for the understanding and management of all ecosystems that include taxa from the series, both in the wild and when grown in cultivation.

Paul Gadsby

2020

The Dahl fellowship has been a massive boost to my project. It has allowed me to work towards my dream of producing Eucalypt educational resources that include books and Apps to cater for bushwalkers through to botanists. As producing the educational resources are financially and time consuming the fellowship has been invaluable in supporting the project.

Paul is pictured here with Smoko.