Sir Rupert Hamer Fellowships

Rules and Criteria

Purpose

The Sir Rupert Hamer Fellowships exist to provide financial support to allow experienced volunteers to undertake work fighting the death penalty outside Australia.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for support from the Fund, a person must:

• have completed a volunteer placement of at least 3 months duration under the auspices of Reprieve Australia, Reprieve UK, Reprieve Netherlands or Reprieve US, and intend to return for a second or subsequent placement; or
• be currently undertaking a volunteer placement of at least 3 months duration under the auspices of Reprieve Australia, Reprieve UK, Reprieve Netherlands or Reprieve US, and intend to extend that placement.

Number of Awards

The number of applicants that will receive support from the Fund in each year will be determined by the Fund's resources and the merit of the applicants.  It is anticipated that there will generally be one or two awards each year. 

However, Reprieve Australia may choose not to distribute any monies, if it judges that the Fund has insufficient resources, or if there are no sufficiently meritorious applicants, or for any other reason.

Application Criteria

Applications will be judged on both need and merit. 

The Fund's principal aim is to support those volunteers who would not otherwise be able to undertake a subsequent placement, or extend their current placement, without financial assistance.  However, the Fund balances this with consideration of the merit of the applicants, as well as the needs and wishes of the offices that the volunteers will be placed with.

Application Process

Applications close on 30 October each year.  In exceptional circumstances, the sub-committee may accept applications outside of this time, provided that sufficient funds remain.

Applicants must submit a letter, addressed to the President, which details why they are applying, their past experience in death penalty work, and their financial circumstances.  They should also include a recent resume.

After the close of applications, a sub-committee comprising Reprieve Australia's President, Vice-President and Intern Coordinator will consider the applications and prepare a shortlist.  In the event that any of these officers are applicants, or close relatives of applicants, Reprieve Australia's Executive Committee will appoint a replacement member of the sub-committee for that year.  In preparing this shortlist the sub-committee may consult with overseas placement offices to ascertain their views about the applicants.

The sub-committee may appoint a selection panel, comprised of non-members of the Executive Committee, to make the decision from the shortlist.  If it does not appoint a selection panel, the sub-committee will make the decision.  The selection panel or the sub-committee may interview candidates that are included on the shortlist.

The decision of the selection panel or sub-committee will be presented to Reprieve Australia's Executive Committee for ratification.  The decision becomes final, and the funds available for distribution to the successful applicant or applicants, upon this ratification.

Distribution of Funds

The successful applicants may use their grant anytime before applications close for the next year's round of funding.

Each distribution from the Fund shall be subject to such conditions as the sub-committee determines at the time the successful applicant is announced.  It is anticipated that distributions from the Fund will generally be used to support the volunteer "in kind", that is, for example, to purchase plane tickets, or to pay their accommodation expenses directly.

The Fund

Reprieve Australia's Treasurer will maintain, or cause to be maintained, the Fund, in such a form and manner as the Executive Committee may from time to time direct.

The assets and income of the Fund shall be applied solely in furtherance of its above-mentioned purpose and, with the exception of distributions authorised by these rules, no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of Reprieve Australia except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of Reprieve Australia in the management of the Fund.

The Fund may be wound-up by a Special Resolution of the Reprieve Australia's membership.  In the event of the Fund being wound-up or otherwise dissolved, the amount that remains after such dissolution and the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall be transferred to the general funds of Reprieve Australia.