WA Committee
Established in 1995 with support from the Government of Western Australia and the private sector, the Western Australian Program invites submissions for training developing country workers in any field where WA expertise can make a significant contribution to food production. We especially seek projects for training Indonesian, African and Middle Eastern workers in plant breeding, pasture and animal production, grain storage, salinity problems, plant nutrition and fisheries management.
Western Australian farmers have benefited from the support provided to developing country trainees by acquiring valuable plant germplasm—Biserrula from Morocco, anthracnose resistant albus lupin from Ethiopia, and black spot resistant field pea from Russia—through the scientific network that the training courses have established. In addition, training in pest and disease diagnosis and control is reducing risks of introducing plant and animal diseases, and problems arising from faulty diagnosis of diseases in products that are exported from and imported into Australia. Commercial enterprises have benefited from their partnership with the Crawford Fund to support training projects for importers in the efficient use of their products, reducing marketing risks, and enhancing their image as good corporate citizens.
We invite new participants for projects on the basis that WA commerce will be “doing well by doing good.” A brochure summarising our activities is available here.
2025 Crawford Fund Student Awards – WA
As part of our efforts to support and encourage the next generation in study, careers and volunteering in international agricultural research, the Crawford Fund proudly supports our Student Awards. These awards have been developed specifically to enable university students to gain valuable experience and expertise by bringing an international component to their studies and research.
The Crawford Fund 2025 Student Awards are now open!
In WA, applications are invited from honours and postgraduate students interested in gaining international agricultural research experience in developing countries, with a maximum of $5,000 awarded. We strongly recommend you read this general background information before you start your online application and we encourage you to contact the Coordinator (listed in the background document) for any clarification you may need. The short online application form will require you to attach a brief CV, the signatures of, or a supporting note from, the authorised officers approving your application, and details of at least one referee.
Apply online here, and take a look at the suggested reporting guidelines for an idea of what is expected once the experience is over.
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPROVED AWARDEES’ TRAVEL WILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH DFAT TRAVEL ADVICE FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH PURPOSES.
The closing date for the 2025 Student Awards is COB 12 May 2025.
2025 Crawford Fund Henzell Awards
The Crawford Fund is offering travel awards, thanks to support from Ted and Frances Henzell and their family, designed specifically for undergraduate students who are in their second or subsequent year of undergraduate study at an Australian university, and are Australian citizens or permanent residents. The awards are for brief visits to a specific but broad range of tropical countries where there is work underway for food and nutrition security.
All the details are available here.
The closing date for the 2025 Henzell Awards is also COB 12 May 2025.
International Training and Agriculture Awards
The Crawford Fund WA Committee has for many years supported targeted training of overseas scientists and extension officers either in ‘home country’ or Australia. Each year it offers a small number of competitive grants of up to a maximum of $15,000 each for short-term training activities. Such activities may include workshop attendance, short-term visits to other institutes, as well as areas of agricultural research, extension, governance and management training for individuals or small groups.
WA Crawford Fund Scholars: 2024 Annual Conference
Each year, the Crawford Fund Committees offer Conference Scholarships for students and young researchers to attend the annual conference. The Scholarship provides funds to cover expenses such as travel, accommodation and registration.
In 2024, we had a bumper crop of 40 2024 Annual Conference scholarship winners from universities and organisations across Australia! This took our conference scholar alumni to almost 500 young students and researchers and industry representatives with an interest in reshaping agriculture to better address food security, the nutritional needs of a growing population, and the environment.
Training Activities and Events
The Western Australian Committee is involved in a range of training activities, such as managing stored grain pests, safe herbicide use and biosecurity; and events to provide networking opportunities for younger researchers.
Here are some examples:
- Celebrating the Wonderful Career of our WA Coordinator – Prof Em Lyn Abbott
- Demonstrating the benefits of IPM to Botswana farmers, and training the next generation of practitioners
- “Nuanced and thought-provoking insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead” – Scholar Reflections from WA
- The Crawford Fund Award, WA – Adjunct Professor John Hamblin
- Writing for impact in peer-reviewed international journals
Events