What are you looking for in a successful applicant? 

The CEW Scholarships Committee looks to award scholarships to the most outstanding future women leaders who will gain the most from the course concerned. In addition to considering responses to application questions, the Committee takes into account the current work responsibilities of the candidate, her perceived career progression and the relevance of the course. The Committee will also recognise the work the candidate does to promote the position of women in their organisation. In some cases, the Committee will recognise voluntary contributions in the applicant’s wider community.

What’s the process for assessing applications?  

Each application is independently read and assessed by at least two CEW members who form part of a sub-committee for each scholarship. We ensure that the assessors do not have any material conflict of interest in relation to the applications they read. The sub-committee then determines a short list of candidates for an interview with members of the sub-committee. After the interviews an in-principle selection is made. Before any scholarship is awarded, references are checked and the receiving course provider confirms the suitability of the applicant for the course. We always interview more candidates than there are awards. 

What is required in the Executive Sponsor's endorsement letter? ? 

The endorsement letter is a letter of endorsement from your primary referee (called Executive Sponsor) as indicated in your application form. It is up to the sponsor to provide their comments on why they believe you are a good candidate for the scholarship. It must be written and signed by your Executive Sponsor, be supplied on your company or oganisation's letterhead, confirm you meet the criteria for the scholarship and confirm your availability to attend all modules of the course. The Committee only requires, and will only accept, one sponsorship letter. 

The Executive Sponsor’s letter is an important component in the assessment process. It complements the applicant's own submission by demonstrating how the applicant is viewed in the organisation, in terms of current role, future potential and contribution to the industry and/or external society. 

A member of the CEW Scholarships Committee will personally contact the Executive Sponsor of the in-principle scholarship recipient by phone for a final reference check before finalising the scholarship award recipient. In some instances if required, a second referee may be requested. 

In some instances an Executive Sponsor may support more than one applicant from an organisation. It is recommended that the sponsor personalises each letter of recommendation to the particular candidate and course. 

Is it better to work on my application form online or offline? 

Because you can "Save & Continue Editing" your application at any time, it is easy to work directly on-line. You don’t have to "Save & Exit", which completes your application form, until you are ready to do so. If you prefer, you can download your application form by clicking on the ellipsis in the right-hand corner of screen then download it.  

How do I complete the application if I choose to work offline? 

First, download the application form by clicking the on the ellipsis on the right-hand side of the screen (next to the eye with the word preview) on your profile HOME page, and then clicking 'Download'. When you are satisfied with the answers to the questions and your word lengths are correct, open the online application, then copy and paste your answers from your Word document to the online form. Remember to click "Save & Continue Editing" every time you copy an answer in to be sure it is not lost. The system will automatically save your application every time you click "Save & Continue Editing" or "Next". When you have completed your application click "Mark Complete". You must do this before clicking "Submit your Application", which is the final step in the application process. 

Can I keep a copy of my application form? 

It is recommended that you keep a copy of your completed application form. You can download your application form by clicking the “Download” button on your application's Home page.

Please note that access to your application will be restricted once the scholarship has been awarded.

Can I upload my application or my sponsor’s endorsement letter after the deadline? 

No. The online application portal tool will lock once the deadline has passed and you will be unable to upload your application or your Executive Sponsor’s endorsement letter. 

Can I apply for more than one scholarship per year? 

Yes, CEW encourages women to apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible for. However, you can only put in one application to the same scholarship per year. 

What if I have questions or need help with my application? 

If you have any questions regarding the scholarship program or application process, please contact scholarships@cew.org.au. If you have any technical issues processing your application on the website, please contact our system provider support@smapply.io who will respond to you within 24 hours.