State Library Fellowships and Medals FAQs

• John Oxley Library Fellowship – $25,000
  • Applicants to the John Oxley Library Fellowship may wish to be considered for  the John Oxley Library Honorary Fellowship. The Honorary Fellowship may be offered to the next highest ranked applicant after the winner of this Fellowship. The Honorary Fellow will receive the same benefits as the John Oxley Library Fellowship, except they will not receive a stipend.
• Monica Clare Research Fellowship – $20,000
• Rainbow Research Fellowship – $20,000
• Queensland Heritage Register Fellowship – $20,000
• Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship – $15,000
• Letty Katts Fellowship – $5,000
• John Oxley Library Medal – nil stipend
• John Oxley Library Community History Medal – $5,000

For paid categories, funding is provided as a stipend, paid in instalments over the year. For more information on each fellowship see the State Library Fellowships and Medals webpages.

See the Application Guide for full eligibility details. A summary is below.

• Australian citizens or permanent residents with a visa that is valid for the length of the Fellowship. It is expected that a portion of your fellowship will occur onsite at State Library and that you are onsite for the Research Reveals event.
  • Applications are accepted from any discipline or professional background for projects that involve research using State Library collections. This includes but is not limited to researchers, artists, creatives, filmmakers, digital media practitioners, data scientists, musicians and composers, curators and arts professionals, writers, 
  • independent scholars and other creatives. Applicants from both academic and nonacademic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
  • Applications are accepted from individuals or pairs who are 18 years of age or over.
  • Applicants to the fellowship categories must be living at the time of entry. If an applicant dies or ceases to hold permanent residence status after their work has been entered, the assessors will not consider the work for a fellowship or medal. If, however, assessment has concluded and a fellowship or medal is recommended to an eligible nominee who dies or ceases to hold permanent resident status before the fellowship or medal is presented, State Library may, at its absolute discretion, pay the 
  • prize to the applicant’s estate.
  • Projects already underway or with other funding are eligible, but this must be disclosed in the application.
  • Relevant archives or collections in other cultural institutions and companies can also be used.
  • Queensland Government employees must upload a letter or email of support from their manager

Who may not apply? 

• Projects forming part of postgraduate studies.
• Australian Research Council (ARC) or university research teams.
• Applicants who do not reside in Australia.
• Current State Library of Queensland staff and Library Board of Queensland members.

All applications must be submitted online through Grants portal SmartyGrants. A link to the application form and guidelines will be available on the State Library Fellowships and Medals webpage during the application period. You must read the Application Guide before submitting your application.  

You can preview the application form on Smarty Grants. It is recommended that you preview the application form before submitting. Mandatory fields, word count limits and file size limits apply. All mandatory fields must be completed to submit. No changes may be made after submitting it.

You can save your work as many times as you like before you submit. No changes can be made after submitting. No late applications will be accepted.

Your application should address the selection criteria and will need to include:

• a project title
• short biographical statement and curriculum vitae (maximum 3 x A4 pages)
• short description of your project and its relevance
• short description of how you will use or contribute to John Oxley Library or State Library collections
• brief overview of project goals, scope and timelines
• anticipated outcomes
• 3 referees with knowledge of the applicant’s research capabilities
• if applicable, details of other funding sources for the project and why fellowship funding is required, and/or details about what stage the project is in if it is not a new project.

Please read the Application Guide carefully for all the details about your category.  

Fellows enter into a binding agreement, or Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), with State Library. Among other things, the MoA provides that the applicant will:

• undertake research for their project
• provide 2 reports on their progress: one mid-fellowship and one at the conclusion
• compile and submit an annotated bibliography
• compose at least 3 articles for the John Oxley Library Blog related to their research during the Fellowship
• deliver a public lecture about their Fellowship research at State Library’s annual Research Reveals event
• be available for publicity purposes, including media interviews and social media engagement
• submit a short report and testimonial at the conclusion of the fellowship outlining the benefits of the experience
• ensure the outcomes of the research acknowledge State Library of Queensland and any donor/partner support.

Nb. Fellows must bring their own laptop or digital device to complete their projects. Fellows are expected to spend some of their research time onsite in the shared workspace on level 4 at State Library to access unique collections and staff expertise.

Expenditure of stipend payments is at each fellow’s discretion, designed to support time to research and complete their project. There is no requirement to report on spending or complete a budget acquittal.

• Each application is initially checked for completeness and eligibility by State Library. 
• Eligible applications are then forwarded to the assessment panel appointed by State Library.
• Assessment panels comprise subject matter experts and individuals with diverse perspectives.
• Panel members read and assess the applications against the selection criteria.
• State Library staff may contact the applicant’s referees.
• The panel and/or State Library reserves the right to ask the applicant to provide 
• additional information. The panel may also require an in-person interview with 
• shortlisted applicants.
• The Panel Chair may, at their discretion, move an application to an additional or 
• different category if they feel the application is more relevant or also relevant to that category.
• Panels shortlist and recommend a merit list of recipients for each fellowship.
• The State Librarian and CEO approves all recipients.
• State Library reserves the right not to award recipients in any category if there are no applications of suitable merit.
• The names of the assessors will be published on State Library’s website at the conclusion of the assessment process.
• Please read the Application Guide carefully for full details. 

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via the email address used to submit the application in SmartyGrants. The fellowship period starts after the announcement ceremony and runs for approximately 15 months, followed by a public talk about the project’s outcomes at a Research Reveals event.

You may request assessors' feedback by emailing fellowships@slq.qld.gov.au.

Yes. If proposing different projects, submit a separate application for each.

It is important to address the selection criteria in the Application Guide when writing your application. Consider attending the annual online information evening held during the call for applications; last year’s recording is available to watch. 

You can find collection material by searching the Library catalogue (OneSearch) and State Library website. You can also chat with a Librarian or log a request via Ask Us.

Keep up to date on the latest news via our State Library Fellowships and Medals webpage, follow State Library's Social Media accounts or email us at fellowships@slq.qld.gov.au.

Please read the Application Guide for full details. 

The John Oxley Library Medal is offered annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the appreciation of Queensland history. This annual medal promotes the value of historical knowledge and its role in shaping Queenslanders’ understanding of themselves and each other. The recipient receives a medal. There is no stipend.

The John Oxley Library Community History Medal is offered annually for outstanding contributions by community organisations or groups to the preservation, recording and sharing of Queensland history. This medal celebrates the people behind projects that help Queenslanders connect with their stories, past and present. The recipient receives a medal and a gift of $5,000.

The State Library of Queensland Medal is awarded by the Library Board of Queensland to recognise distinguished, outstanding and meritorious contributions to the strategic vision of State Library.  It is open to past staff members of State Library only. 

All medallists are recognised at the announcement ceremony. 

All applications must be submitted online through Grants portal SmartyGrants. A link to the application form and guidelines will be available on the State Library Fellowships and Medals webpage during the application period. You must read the Application Guide before submitting your application.  

You can preview the application form on Smarty Grants. It is recommended that you preview the application form before submitting. Mandatory fields, word count limits and file size limits apply. All mandatory fields must be completed to submit. No changes may be made after submitting it.

You can save your work as many times as you like before you submit.  No changes can be made after submitting. No late applications will be accepted.

No. Nominations must come from another individual who can recognise and support your work.

Yes. However, no single applicant may win the same category twice.  

Yes. Nominees’ work must be relevant to Queensland history. 

Your nominations should address the selection criteria set out in the Application Guide.  

Selection criteria for the John Oxley Library Medal are:

• Significance
• Impact
• Professionalism and leadership

Selection criteria for the John Oxley Library Community History Medal are:

• Significance
• Impact
• Collaboration

You may provide supporting documents and contact details for referees.

Funds can be spent at the discretion of the organisation to support their area of historic interest.

• Each application is initially checked for completeness and eligibility by State Library. 
• Eligible applications are then forwarded to the assessment panel appointed by State Library.
• Assessment panels comprise subject matter experts and individuals with diverse perspectives.
• Panel members read and assess the applications against the selection criteria.
• State Library staff may contact the applicant’s referees.
• The panel and/or State Library reserves the right to ask the applicant to provide 
• additional information. The panel may also require an in-person interview with 
• shortlisted applicants.
• The Panel Chair may, at their discretion, move an application to an additional or 
• different category if they feel the application is more relevant or also relevant to that category.
• Panels shortlist and recommend a merit list of recipients for each fellowship.
• The State Librarian and CEO approves all recipients.
• State Library reserves the right not to award recipients in any category if there are no applications of suitable merit.
• The names of the assessors will be published on State Library’s website at the conclusion of the assessment process.
• Please read the Application Guide carefully for full details.

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via the email address used to submit the application in SmartyGrants.