Applications are being called for several scholarships, grants and professional development awards presented to individuals under the prestigious Aspire Program run annually by Perth Convention Bureau. Eligibility extends to individuals representing a not-for-profit association or academic institution. 

What is the Aspire Program?

The Aspire Program is the new umbrella term and sub-brand for the Bureau’s highly-successful initiative (previously called the Scholarships and Awards program). Going forward, the Aspire Program will see 15 scholarships and awards worth a total of $100,000 presented to individuals in May this year.

The Aspire Program embraces the $10,000 City of Perth Convention Scholarship, as well as several $5,000 Professional Development Awards presented to leading academics at Perth’s top universities and four $10,000 Convention Travel Grants on offer to Fellows and Trainees of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. See headings further below for more specific information.

Perth Convention Bureau Chief Executive Officer Paul Beeson comments: “The Aspire Program is a win-win situation for the Bureau. We’re delighted to assist in the professional development of our academic institutions and not-for-profit communities, enabling them to attend overseas conferences and network with their international peers. In return we get to identify a range of valuable bidding opportunities for conferences that have the potential to come to Western Australia.”

This program has been operating since 1999 and in that time it has generated convention business worth more than $80 million in direct delegate expenditure to the Western Australian economy. 

What can the funds be used for?

The aim of the program is to assist the individual’s personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference, or by undertaking further study in their chosen field of endeavour. The funding covers travel, accommodation and registration expenses to the maximum value of the award.

Scholarships and Awards

For further information regarding applications for the Aspire Program, please select from the following:

-  City of Perth Convention Scholarship

-  City of Mandurah Convention Scholarship

-  Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Travel Grant

-  Curtin University Professional Development Awards

-  Edith Cowan University Professional Development Awards

-  Murdoch University Professional Development Awards

-  University of Western Australia Professional Development Awards

-  University of Notre Dame Professional Development Awards

The deadline for applications for the 2012 Aspire Program is 30 March this year (City of Mandurah Convention Scholarship applications close 13 April). To apply, simply research an international conference that has the potential to be staged in Western Australia and present a brief case as to why the conference should be held here. We’ll give you some guidelines to follow.

For further information, please contact Aspire Program Project Manager – Luana MacDermott via email at luana@pcb.com.au or call her on 0417 953 754.