Seeking endorsement

Refer to the endorsement requirements for the Award category you are applying for to find out who can endorse your application. For team applications, each team member will need to provide written endorsement.

Applications from staff or students from:

• universities must be endorsed by their Deputy Vice Chancellor Research (DVCR) or Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic (DVCA)

• registered training organisations must be endorsed by their Education Manager

• schools must be endorsed by their school Principal.

Applications from industry must be endorsed by their employer through its chief executive officer or company chairperson. In the case of a chief executive officer or company chairperson applying, they may endorse their own application

Applications from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Peoples must include a letter of community endorsement from a recognised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation or Indigenous community leader.

Your endorser will need to provide a short written endorsement to support your application, and you’ll need to include this when you submit your final application. For details of what you are endorsing, see ‘What am I asking someone to endorse?’

By providing their endorsement, the endorser is confirming that:

• the applicant is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• to their knowledge, the applicant has not been found to have committed, formally convicted of, or is currently under a formal investigation for, any misconduct, academic misconduct or criminal offences
• the application is based on the individual’s achievement to date
• the majority of the applicant’s work as described in their application was undertaken in South Australia.

In addition to above for Mid-Career STEMM Professionals, endorsers are confirming that:

• the applicant’s combined work experience in R&I roles is no less than eight (8) years and no more than fifteen (15) years, unless legitimate career interruptions have been cited in a Relative Opportunity Statement.

For PhD Students, endorsers are also confirming that:

• the student has received conferral of their PhD degree and that this occurred no more than 24 months prior to the closure of the applications for the awards.

Getting your endorsement sorted early helps make sure you meet the requirements for your chosen Award category – without it, your application won’t be eligible. It’s best to confirm this upfront before investing too much time in your application.

Your endorser can also be a valuable support along the way, offering advice, ideas, and examples to help strengthen your application.

For team applications, each team member will need to provide written endorsement aligned to the requirements for the Award category they are applying for. See Award categories.