The Catherine Helen Spence scholarship provides financial support of up to $25,000 for a woman to undertake an investigation of social problems and/or a study in the field of social science in Australia and overseas. 

In 1894, Catherine Helen Spence played an influential role in achieving suffrage for women in South Australia, with the passing of the Constitutional Amendment (Adult Suffrage) Act.  The legislation granted women the right to vote and stand for Parliament. In 1911 the South Australian Government established a fund for a scholarship in honor of Catherine Helen Spence. 

Awarded every four years, the Catherine Helen Spence scholarship was first awarded to Dorothea Proud in 1912 for her investigation of the industrial conditions of women factory workers in Britain and Australasia. The most recent recipient, Tessa Cunningham, received the Scholarship in 2022 which allowed her to co-produce an exhibition with the criminalised young people she worked with on her PhD and produce a report which explored criminalised young people and the worlds we create for them. Other Scholarship recipients have investigated social issues about an array of subjects including improving accommodation and facilities for mothers and babies in prisons, drink spiking, barriers to university entrance and anorexia nervosa.

Eligibility requirements:

• are a woman between the age of 20 and 35*
• live in South Australia
• have lived in South Australia for at least five years immediately prior to the awarding of the scholarship *
• will be able to commence the scholarship project by February 2026 - or earlier
• will be able to carry out and complete the research project within 18 months of commencement
• will be using the scholarship to investigate or study contemporary issues in the field of social sciences relevant to South Australian social conditions.
• Applicants do not need to be currently employed, studying or attached to an organization or institution to apply for the scholarship.
• The scholarship may be combined with a PhD, Masters, Honors or other degree study.

* The committee may, at its discretion, award the Scholarship to a woman who is resident in South Australia at the time of selection but does not fulfil the requirements in relation to age or length of residence in the state.

To apply and for further information please visit, https://www.sa.gov.au/CHSscholarship