About the Fund

Launched in 2020 the Professional Development Fund aims to support individual members (> 1 year) access relevant professional development opportunities through the ASA or the wider GLAM Sector.

Funds can be used to cover the costs associated with professional development including registration fees, travel and accommodation, and childcare.

What's Included

Individual members may apply to receive up to $500 per application. Total Fund available per financial year is $5,000 providing a minimum of ten Professional Development opportunities to individual members.

Professional development activities may include:

• workshops
• seminars
• meetings
• online courses; and
• *events.

Events, workshops and courses by other GLAMR associations or organisations or other relevant opportunities, may also be eligible for funding.

Regional members are encouraged to apply, to support their in-person attendance at Branch and SIG events, and workshops. You do not need to specify the exact Branch or SIG event if they are held regularly.

*Excludes the annual conference. For assistance to attend the conference please apply for the Sharman Award - Conference Bursary. 

Funding Conditions & Recipient Responsibilities

• Recipient to cover up-front costs.
• Funding will be provided upon submission of a claim form including receipts (for tax purposes).
• Reimbursement will be provided within two weeks of the claim form being submitted to the Treasurer.
• Following the professional development activity, you are asked to write a short (maximum 200 words) report describing how the Fund supported your professional development. If agreed, this may be published in Archive Matters.

Note: If you are successful but are unable to pay up-front please contact the Treasurer for assistance.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be a current individual financial member of the ASA , for one year or greater. This includes Student, Emerging Professional and Concession Members. Representatives of Corporate members are not eligible for the Award. 
• You can apply multiple times, but only once per round.
• You can only receive funding once per financial year.
• Priority will be given to:
  • regional members
  • members who otherwise could not attend an event or undertake a professional development opportunity
• Relevance of the professional development opportunity to the archival and recordkeeping profession.
• Whether you are a previous recipient of an ASA award, scholarship, this Fund, or other funding.
• The level of benefit you will receive by attending the activity.

How to Apply

• The Fund will open for applications twice a year (about 6 months apart) and remain open until the fund allocated for each round has been granted.
• Application is via our online portal. The application form will ask for details about:
  • your proposed professional development activity
  • the benefits you anticipate receiving by attending the activity
  • the total funding amount requested and a breakdown of costs
• Applications will be assessed as they are received and applicants will be informed of the outcome within three weeks of their application. All decisions are final.

Application Example

When asked to provide a breakdown of the funding amount requested, and to specify costs, please enter 0 for any fields that are not relevant. Please use a best guess estimate when considering travel and accommodation costs if the exact amounts are not known. e.g.

• Accommodation: $130 for one night stay in Melbourne CBD

• Travel: $50 for train ticket Melbourne to Ballarat (return)

• Childcare: $75 for a babysitter to collect children from school

• Registration: $0

• Total: $255

Judging Process

The Selection Committee consists of the Treasurer, a Councillor to represent the small archives sector, and an Accredited Professional member from a regional location who is not on Council.

Applications will be assessed as they are received and applicants will be informed of the outcome within three weeks of their application. All decisions are final.