We are pleased to announce that the winner of the WPN Rising Star Scholarship for 2012 is RMIT Bachelor of Social Science (Planning) (Hons.) undergraduate Sophie Jordan, for her essay Woman and Home: An investigation into equitable forms of housing. Sophie's winning essay will be available to read here shortly. Please check back soon.

About the Scholarship

The Rising Star Scholarship is an excellent opportunity to gain financial assistance for your graduate or postgraduate education. All it takes is a well researched essay on an issue affecting the planning and design of our environment.

The scholarship is sponsored by SJB Planning Pty Ltd, an award winning Melbourne-based practice offering a range of specialist town planning services.

The scholarship is open to all male and female local and international students who are

entering into their 3rd of 4th year of undergraduate studies, or
undertaking postgraduate studies

in a Victorian tertiary institution in any of the following areas of study and who are not recipients of any other scholarship:

Town Planning
Urban Design
Architecture
Landscape Architecture
Geography
Social Sciences
Property Development and Management

2011 recipient, Elanna Nolan (left)

The scholarship provides financial assistance ($5500) towards the fees of the successful student for the forthcoming year of his/her studies.

The scholarship encourages:

Sound research and analytical skills
Creative thought and initiative in seeking relevant information
Practical application of relevant theory to the chosen topic
Appropriate sourcing of a range of relevant reference material relevant to the chosen topic.

The scholarship aims to enhance awareness about gender issues and the ways such issues can be addressed in the planning and development of our neighbourhoods, towns, cities or regions.

How to apply

Applications for the 2013 scholarship will be open later in the year - please check this page again for further announcements.

To apply you must submit a 2000 word essay on or before (the nominated closing date - to be advised for the 2013 award) on an important issue affecting the planning and design of our urban, regional or rural spaces in Victoria. The essay must:

include comment on the difference that gender perspective can have in analysing the issue(s) being addressed;
describe and analyse the chosen issue(s) in a way that demonstrates a sound understanding of relevant planning theory or principles;
meet the requirements of a well written tertiary paper including grounds and reasons for opinions or assertions, providing insightful comment and well constructed and articulate arguments.
use a relevant case study, preferably Australian-based.

The essays may include discussion about issues such as ethnicity, access to employment, affordable housing, community services and facilities.

You can gain some inspiration by reading the past winning entries:

2011 Winning Entry

Elanna Nolan - Going to Town: Gender, Youth and the City >> click to view

Previous Winners

2010 - Adam Birch - Gender Assumptions in the Redevelopment of Melbourne's City Centre>> click to view

2009 - William Wong - Designing Urban Space: 'Queer Theory' and Identity Politics >> click to view

2008 - Yana Perkovic - Creating Inclusive Public Space and Why It Matters >> click to view

2007 - Katharine Bailey - Public Toilets: A Gender Perspective >> click to to view

Judging Criteria

The entries are assessed by a panel comprising WPN members, representatives from SJB Planning and several universities. The judging panel will assess the entries using the following criteria:

Writing (30%) - Good essay structure; main argument apparent in introduction, good flow of arguments leading to conclusion; argument is logical and clear, with good grammar and properly referenced.
Knowledge (30%) - Demonstrates understanding of literature pertaining to planning and gender difference; literature pertaining to case study /topic is relevant and appropriate.
Analysis (40%) - Demonstrates insight and perceptiveness, maturity and/or originality; makes a useful contribution to questions of gender difference and planning and development.

Enquiries

Enquiries about the scholarship can be made directly to WPN as follows:

Telephone (03) 9347 4622
Fax (03) 9347 2900
Email admin@wpn.org.au

Students can also make enquiries about the scholarship with the following university contacts:

Melbourne University – Carolyn Whitzman and Clare Mouat
RMIT – Nicole Coo and John Jacksonk
La Trobe University – Trevor Budge and Julie Rudner
Deakin University - David Jones