Human Rights Law Resource Centre

National Australia Bank Human Rights Law Scholarship

1.                 Introduction

1.1               Overview

The National Australia Bank (‘NAB’) has generously agreed to provide funding to the Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd (‘HRLRC’) to confer an annual scholarship to an individual to enable him or her to undertake an approved unit of postgraduate study in the area of human rights law.  The scholarship will cover the tuition fee for the chosen subject to a maximum amount of $3000. 

The scholarship will be called the ‘National Australia Bank Human Rights Law Scholarship’ (‘the Scholarship’). 

1.2               Purpose of these Guidelines

Part 2 of these Guidelines sets out the nomination and selection process for the Scholarship.

Part 3 of the Guidelines sets out the eligibility and assessment criteria applied by the HRLRC for the purpose of conferring the Scholarship. 

Part 4 of the Guidelines sets out conditions of the Scholarship. 

1.3               Overview of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre

The HRLRC is a joint initiative of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) and Liberty Victoria. 

The HRLRC aims to promote human rights in Victoria and Australia, particularly the human rights of people that are disadvantaged or living in poverty, through the practice of law.  The HRLRC also aims to support and enhance the capacity of the legal profession, judiciary, government and community sector to develop Australian law and policy consistently with international human rights standards. 

The HRLRC seeks to achieve these aims by supporting, conducting, coordinating, resourcing, facilitating and enhancing the provision of legal services, litigation, education, training, research and advocacy regarding human rights. 

The HRLRC undertakes these activities through partnerships and collaboration with the community legal sector and legal aid, human rights organisations, pro bono lawyers, legal professional associations and university law schools. 

From time to time, the HRLRC Board will request the nomination of eligible persons for the Scholarship. 

Nominations should address the eligibility and assessment criteria discussed at Part 3 below.  Nominations should be no longer than 1 A4 page in length and be sent, preferably by email, to:

Philip Lynch
Director
Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd
Level 1, 550 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne  VIC  3001

E: hrlrc@vicbar.com.au

After reviewing nominations and applying the eligibility and assessment criteria, the Scholarship will be conferred by, and at the absolute discretion of, the Board of the HRLRC. 

To be eligible for the Scholarship, the person must be eligible to enrol in an approved postgraduate subject in the area of human rights law. 

Eligible nominations for the Scholarship will be assessed by the HRLRC Board against the following criteria:

1. the nominee’s contribution to the work of the HRLRC;
2. the nominee’s contribution to the practise of human rights law more generally;
3. the benefit likely to be derived by the nominee from the Scholarship;
4. the benefit likely to the derived by the HRLRC from the nominee being conferred with the Scholarship;
5. the relevance of the nominee’s proposed postgraduate subject to the thematic priorities and target groups of the HRLRC; and
6. any other considerations that the HRLRC Board considers relevant. 

4.1               Special Conditions

The Scholarship is conferred subject to the following conditions:

1. the recipient satisfactorily completes the approved postgraduate subject.  If the recipient does not satisfactorily complete the subject, the recipient is liable to repay the amount of the Scholarship to the HRLRC within 28 days.  In special circumstances, the HRLRC may, in its absolute discretion, waive repayment of all or part of the value of the Scholarship; and
2. the recipient agrees to present a lecture on behalf of the HRLRC which discusses the key themes and findings of the subject and the recipient’s work. 

4.2               Approved Subjects

The Scholarship is available for any postgraduate law subject in human rights which is mutually agreed between the HRLRC and the recipient. 

For further information, contact:

Philip Lynch
Director
Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd
Level 1, 550 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne  VIC  3001

P: + 61 3 9225 6695

F: + 61 3 9225 6686

E: hrlrc@vicbar.com.au

W: www.hrlrc.org.au