Hear from our ADM Fellows alumni about their experiences

About the ADM Fellowships Program - Engaging our world with the gospel

ADM Fellowships raise up Christian women to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus, as they serve Christ in the church, the community, and the world.

The objectives of the ADM Fellowships Program are to:

• Enable the completion of high-quality major projects by Christian women that will give them credibility in their field and set them up for further opportunities to serve Christ and his Church, particularly in engaging a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus.

• Train and equip Christian women to share their contributions with wider public audiences, through providing integrated theological and professional development in a supportive Christian environment.

• Progress Christian women at the early/mid vocational stage towards sustainable pathways to continue their work, and promote the creation of more pathways for Christian women to serve Christ and his Church.

For more about the Program see About the ADM Fellowships Program.

Overview of ADM Fellowships

ADM Fellowships provide financial and institutional support for Christian women to complete a major project at the ADM office in Sydney and pursue avenues for public gospel witness.

We encourage Christian women from a variety of backgrounds, fields and experience to apply, including ministry, theological education, professional spheres, academia, not-for-profit, education, health and more. Examples of Fellowship project outputs can include books, journal articles, practical resources, talks, research, online pieces, media appearances and more.

ADM Fellowships provide office space and a bursary, as well as tailored professional development opportunities for Fellows.

ADM Fellowships can be held for a period of 6 months or 1 year.

Applicants can apply to work on their Fellowship for either 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week.

ADM Fellows receive a bursary, paid in quarterly instalments. Fellowship bursary amounts are based on the number of working days per week and the duration of the Fellowship (see the Information & Conditions pack below for the table of bursary figures). The maximum bursary for ADM Fellows who undertake their project 5 days per week for one year is $60,000, and for ADM Senior Fellows, $80,000.

ADM Fellowships can be funded in two ways:

• Matched: In this category, applications for an ADM Fellowship must include 50% funding from at least one source external to ADM, for example, the applicant’s employer (e.g., a College, church, parachurch organisation, school) or a group of supporters (e.g., donors, ministry supporters, crowd-funding). The funding contribution from the external source(s) for an application must match the total funding requested from ADM, i.e., it must cover 50% of the Fellowship bursary requested. ADM will contribute the other 50%, matching the external contribution.

  • For example, an application for a 3-day/week, 1-year ADM Senior Fellowship (bursary: $48,000) must include a contribution from external source(s) of 50% of that amount ($24,000).

  • Applicants will need to provide evidence they have secured this external funding in their application, for example, a letter from their employer indicating willingness to commit the funds should the applicant be successful, a letter from key donors, or evidence of the applicant’s past track-record in support-raising funds.    

• ADM-only: Where an applicant is unable to access external funding source(s) to make the 50% contribution to their Fellowship, applicants can apply for ADM to fund their Fellowship in full (100%).

Please note: preference will be given to matched applications. However, at least one Fellowship will be reserved for an applicant with no access to external funding.

Assessment criteria

All applications will be assessed against the following criteria: 

Applicant:

• Appetite and ability to be raised up to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus, as you serve Christ in the church, the community, or the world.

• Appetite and ability to think biblically and theologically in your area, in alignment with ADM’s theological principles, and integrating faith and vocation.

• Appetite and ability for excellence and leadership in your field (assessed relative to field and relative to opportunity, taking into account career interruptions).

Fellowship project and its outputs:

• Quality (assessed relative to the applicant’s field).

• Viability: the likelihood the project outputs will be completed.

• Impact: connections between the project and Christian faith, and the potential of the project to impact beneficiaries (e.g., communities, churches, organisations) in ways shaped by the gospel.

• Public engagement: the potential of the project to engage various public audiences through events and media during and after the Fellowship, and grow professional networks and relationships in your field.

• Capacity-building: the likelihood that completing the project outputs will help you progress to the next step in reaching larger vocational goals and finding sustainable pathways to continue serving.

Application process

Applications for ADM Fellowships occur in two stages:

1.         A short application called an Expression of Interest (EOI)

2.         Successful EOI’s will then be invited to submit a full application.

Longlisted applicants in the full application round will have their applications assessed by ADM’s Fellowships review panel. Applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted approximately 1-2 weeks before offers are due to be made (interviews can be conducted online if needed).

Benefits

ADM Fellows receive a bursary, paid in quarterly instalments. Fellowship bursary amounts are based on the number of working days per week and the duration of the Fellowship (see the ‘ADM Fellowships – Information + Conditions pack’ below for a full table of bursary figures). The maximum bursary for ADM Fellows who undertake their project 5 days per week for one year is AUD $60,000, and for ADM Senior Fellows, AUD $80,000. Please note that Fellows are responsible for their own tax arrangements.

ADM Fellows are provided with a personal, allocated desk space and shelving at the ADM office, which is also accessible outside office hours. Computer monitors and office internet and printers will be available. Fellows who work less than five days may need to desk-share. Fellows are expected to work at ADM on their designated workdays. Core office hours are 10am to 3pm. However, flexible work arrangements can be requested.

In addition, ADM Fellows are provided with tailored professional development opportunities, for example, in project management and Christian public engagement, as well as avenues to connect with mentors and networks. During their Fellowship, ADM Fellows receive free membership to The Greenhouse – ADM’s digital community and training platform for Christian women. After the completion of their Fellowship, ADM Fellows become part of our growing network of Fellows alumni. 

ADM Fellows do not assign their intellectual property to ADM and are not expected to do so. ADM does not endorse the work and views of ADM Fellows. Each Fellow represents herself and her own work. The views expressed by ADM Fellows are those of the Fellow and do not represent the views of Anglican Deaconess Ministries.

Note: The full benefits and responsibilities of ADM Fellows are contained in the Information + Conditions pack below.

EOI application submission

EOI applications must be made using the online application form via the link below.

When you submit your application, you will receive an email acknowledging it has been received.

The EOI is a short application consisting of applicant details and two main written responses (500 words each):

• Personal Statement: Write a statement about why you want to apply for an ADM Fellowship. Please tell us about your personal vision for being “raised up to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus, as you serve Christ in the church, the community or the world.”

• Fellowship Project Description: Provide an outline of your proposed Fellowship Project. What output(s) will you complete and which audience(s) will you engage? (500 words)

• Attach a 1-2 page CV

We recommend you have your answers prepared prior to commencing the online application.

Information session

Curious about applying? Got questions? Join us for an optional information session in person or online.

• Monday 29 April 2024, 1:00pm-2:00pm AEST: Optional Information Session at ADM office (St Andrew’s House, Level 1, 464-480 Kent St, Sydney) or attend online via Zoom. REGISTER

Enquiries

If you have questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our Fellowships team via hello@deaconessministries.org.au

Or to speak directly with us about your questions: book a 1-1 call calendar spot.

We can assist with any questions in putting together your application or with any broader queries about the Fellowships program.

Nominate a Fellow

Do you know a Christian woman who should apply for our Fellowships Program? Nominate her and we will get in touch with information about the program and how to apply - thanks to you!

Hear from our ADM Fellows alumni about their experiences