Download the 2012 Myer Rural Education Award Application form
The Rural Education Leadership Award will showcase the outstanding achievements and practices of education leaders in Victorian Rural Schools. The Scholarship promotes the reputation of Victorian Rural Schools and Clusters as “centres of excellence”. Winners will have the ability to influence teaching and learning approaches and to disseminate outcomes of their work to benefit our entire education system. The Award acknowledges endeavours that build a collective knowledge and recognises innovation that will enhance rural education.
The Award in 2012 will recognize the positive work that clusters and collegiate arrangements have in enhancing and building the learning provision throughout rural Victoria
Given the significance, value and prestige of this Award there is a rigorous selection process. The achievements of recipients will be celebrated at a state level, and in some cases at national and international level.
In 2012, the Rural Education Leadership Award will be announced as part of the Country Education Project Annual Meeting to be held in March 2012.
Mr Baillieu Myer AC
CEP patron Baillieu Myer
There are very few distinguished people who have presence and with whom you feel immediately at ease. Baillieu is such a person.
His passion for the wellbeing of young people in rural and remote Australia is immediately obvious. Not only does Mr. Myer have a first hand experience of the reality of learning in extremely remote bush locations, he also has a clear understanding of the need to improve the profile, through national advocacy, of these education communities.
Baillieu Myer studied at both Melbourne and Cambridge Universities.
He has held a number of positions throughout his life, some being:
- Director of the Myer Emporium
- Deputy Director of Coles Myer
- Trustee of the Sidney Myer Fund
- Director of the Myer Foundation
- Board member of CSIRO
- Emeritus Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria
- Patron of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia and was awarded a Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the University of Melbourne. In 2007, Mr. Myer agreed to be the first patron of Country Education Project Inc.
Award Description
2010 scholarship nominees with Bailieu Myer and Wendy Graham
The “Baillieu Myer Rural Education Leadership Award” was established in Victoria in 2008 by the Country Education Project, with the aim of perpetuating and honouring the contribution of Mr Baillieu Myer AC, by presenting an annual award in his name.
The Award recognises outstanding education leadership within rural communities and raises awareness that professional learning can improve the quality of learning within these communities. It is awarded to promote action– research and to disseminate exemplary and innovative rural education leadership and learning practice for the benefit of all rural communities within Victoria and beyond.
The recipient is expected to explore the implications of their findings within their school and to expand the knowledge base of rural schools and communities.
The Scholarship
The scholarship will enable the successful individual/team to document and share their innovative leadership practice with other schools across the state and to investigate an issue of interest and relevance to rural education. It will assist participants to develop their own capabilities to influence and support the professional learning and growth of members of the Victorian rural community. The value of the Scholarship is $12,000 which may be used to cover costs associated with travel, accommodation, leave, professional development or any other support required to document and investigate an issue of interest. The project should be completed before 31st December 2012.
Focus of the 2012 Award
The Baillieu Myer Rural Education Leadership Award for 2012 will recognise the positive work that clusters and collegiate leadership have on enhancing and building the learning provision throughout rural Victoria.
It will focus on the collective approach that these clusters utilise in the development and provision of education that enhances the learning outcomes and opportunities of rural young people.
Rural Cluster will need to nominate a collegiate leadership team that have been central in the development and implementation of the detailed learning initiative as well as utilise the scholarship to further develop their leadership skills through action research and professional development.
Eligibility
The Baillieu Myer Rural Education Leadership Award is open to all rural education organisations (as defined by CEP) throughout Victoria. All leaders must be currently involved in a Victorian rural cluster, as staff, education leaders, school councillor, parent or community member.
Rural Clusters are to nominate a collegiate leadership team within the application – and not individual leaders.
Recipients of other professional state, national or international awards are not excluded from consideration for this Award.
Endorsement
All applications must be endorsed by the applicant’s School Principal and School Council President. Those applications that are from a Rural Cluster of Schools must be endorsed by the clusters “lead” School Principal and School Council president.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must be exemplary representatives of the education sector and be able to provide evidence of the following in their application.
How their leadership practice has:
- Delivered outstanding leadership within a rural community that enhances the provision of learning within that community
- Demonstrated leadership within a rural community that promotes the value and importance of learning provision within the community and its importance to rural sustainability
- Demonstrated strong leadership in developing partnerships with other education providers, the community and key stakeholders through a collaborative approach to enhance learning
- Demonstrated creative approaches utilised in the development and provision of learning within a rural cluster to cater for the needs and aspirations of rural communities.
The definition of rural for the purpose of this Award includes those communities that are located:
- At least one and half hours car travel from Melbourne CBD
- At least 25 kms from a regional population of at least 10,000 people
- Within a community population of less than 5,000 people.
Proposal
As part of the nomination process, applicants should describe how the $10,000 Scholarship will be used to document and investigate an issue of interest, share their innovative leadership practice and key findings and undertake further professional learning.
Referee
In support of your application, you must provide the contact details of two referees. If you are short listed, your referees will be contacted. As a general guide, referees may focus on your achievements to date and why you are an outstanding candidate.
Conditions
- Scholarship recipients are expected to remain in a rural education setting for a minimum of two years following the period of the Scholarship.
- The Scholarship is not intended for postgraduate research study.
- Any unused Scholarship monies must be returned to the Country Education Project.
- A report of the project is to be delivered to the Country Education Project by 31 December 2012.
- The recipient is expected to present their Scholarship findings to the following Annual General Meeting of CEP; the education community through appropriate meetings, forums, conferences; Country Education Project Inc website and Knowledge Bank.
- The Country Education Project reserves the right to use all or part of any material, including submissions and photographs, for any publicity campaign related to rural education in Victoria. The Country Education Project owns copyright of any materials produced during, or as a result of the Award.
Application process
Full Application (due by 23rd February 2012)
- Applications must be made on the Application Forum provided. Download the Rural Leadership Application application 2012
- All applications will be acknowledged, via email, shortly after receipt.
- Late applications will not be considered.
- Eligible applicants are advised to complete the relevant award application form and address all the selection criteria.
- The selection panel will shortlist eligible candidates.
- Short listed candidates may be required to attend an interview.
- The selection panel will include representatives in the field of education, including the DEECD and CEO, who will use the criteria to identify rural clusters who demonstrate excellence.
More Information
More information regarding the Baillieu Myer Rural Education Leadership Award can be obtained by contacting:
Mr Phil Brown
Executive Officer
Country Education Project
Ph: 0428171145
Email via the CEP contact form
