Westpac Social Change Fellowship Program

Purpose and Program Overview

The Westpac Social Change Fellowship invests in exceptional Australian leaders who are driving measurable social impact across communities, environment, education, or health. Delivered by the Westpac Scholars Trust, the fellowship provides unrestricted funding and leadership development to accelerate bold initiatives that tackle Australia’s most pressing challenges.

A $1.5 million annual allocation supports up to 10 fellows each year. By combining financial backing with executive education, mentoring, and a lifelong alumni network, the program amplifies social innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and scalable solutions that benefit Australian society.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range – $50,000 per fellow (unrestricted)
• Application open and close dates – Applications open 2 June 2025 and close 14 July 2025, 5:00 pm AEST
• Eligible industries or business types – Individuals only; leaders from not-for-profits, social enterprises, charities, community organisations, academia or public sector
• Required co-contributions – None required
• Location/state/territory applicability – Nation-wide

Priority Sectors

The fellowship is sector-agnostic; priority is given to initiatives in education, community wellbeing, health, environment and social inclusion.

Funding Scope

Social Change Fellowship $50,000 $50,000 12 months Leadership development, project scaling, strategic planning

Grant Amount in Total

$1.5 million per annum

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual – Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 21+
• Leadership role – Demonstrated track record of social impact and current leadership in a social-change initiative
• Project stage – Initiative must be operational and have measurable outcomes
• Commitment – Must commit to full participation in the 12-month Westpac leadership program
• Exclusivity – Cannot concurrently hold another Westpac scholarship or fellowship
• ABN/GST – Not required (grant is paid to the individual via the Trust)

Eligible Activities and Expenses

• Strategic planning and project scaling activities
• Leadership training, executive education and conference attendance
• Research, evaluation and impact measurement
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Travel and accommodation for program components (capped within the grant)

Assessment Process

• Type – Competitive merit-based (two-stage: written application + interview)
• Key criteria –
  • Impact potential – measurable social benefit for Australia
  • Leadership capacity – evidence of vision, influence and execution
  • Strategic alignment – alignment with Westpac’s social-impact priorities
  • Scalability – potential to expand or replicate the initiative

Recent Program Updates

• The 2026 cohort will include a regional leadership residency component (launched May 2025).
• Application portal upgraded to allow video pitch uploads (max 3 minutes).
• Alumni mentoring network expanded to include previous Westpac 100 Scholars.

Application Tips

• Articulate clear, quantifiable social-impact metrics in the application.
• Provide evidence of stakeholder support (letters, testimonials).
• Prepare a succinct 3-minute video pitch highlighting vision and impact.
• Demonstrate scalability and sustainability beyond the fellowship year.
• Submit early to allow time for referee follow-up.

Where to Get Help for Westpac Social Change Fellowship

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your eligibility and evaluate how well your initiative aligns with the fellowship’s objectives. You can also visit the Westpac Scholars website for guidelines, FAQs, and the online application portal.