Applications for our 2021/22 scholarship round are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application.
We will be sharing more information about future scholarships and other training opportunities via social media and our email list. We encourage you to follow along!
PAC scholarships support emerging leaders from Australia, Asia and the Pacific to build their knowledge and skills in natural and cultural heritage protection, stewardship and conservation management.
Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to excellence in governance and management of protected areas. PAC courses are available in a range of subjects at collaboration institutions.
In recognition of the vital role that Indigenous peoples play in conserving and protecting lands, seas and resources, PAC invites and encourages Indigenous Peoples from Australia, Asia or the Pacific region to submit a scholarship application (PAC acknowledges and adheres to the definition of ‘Indigenous Peoples’ contained in the International Labour Organsiation Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, and endorsed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature).
“In Bhutan we have 5 year cycles for management plans in the National Park... I’ll be leading the team to develop the plan so this training and everything I learn here will be directly applied to the development of our new plan.”
Hear from previous recipients of PAC scholarships.
“The [Open Standards] course has cleared my mind and it’s made an impact on me to become a better and thoughtful but methodical manager. More important, I learned I was not alone. Too often I feel no one else understands the situation but me, but after a week at the course, I now know there are other managers with similar dilemmas as me, and there are others who can help. Again, I am grateful of the scholarship from PALRC and the opportunity to learn Adaptive Management with the Blue Mountain Heritage Institute”
— Lolita Gibbons (2019), Palau Conservation Society Program Manager, IUCN Regional Councillor (Oceania) “I was really impressed by the way the whole training program was conducted here. The passion of the instructors. It was really contagious. They are so very convinced and enthusiastic about the whole methodology and that really makes a difference because that kind of conviction rubs off on you….What makes the training even more effective is that every morning you have theoretical situations that then get applied in the field in the afternoon. All up, its been a wonderful experience.”
— Niraj Kakti (2018), Wildlife Institute of India 
In November 2018, PALRC supported six scholarship recipients to travel to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute (BMWHI) in Katoomba, NSW to undertake the Adaptive Management for Protected Areas Conservation in the Asia-Pacific course.
Pictured left to right: Zin Lin Tun (Myanmar), Niraj Kakati (India), Furwoko Nazor (Indonesia), Doug Humann (PALRC Development Director), Phuntso (Bhutan), James Overall (Australia), Abir Man Sinchuri (Bhutan)
Overall the concept of this training was impactful and knowledgeable. Amongst the content of the course, selecting an appropriate target (landscape/species of importance), ranking and selecting a prominent threat, developing a clear idea on current situation, coming with specific strategies, preparing monitoring & evaluation plan were found very useful in my context. I have used the tools like threat assessment, threat ranking, strategy formation, and result chain analysis using MERADI software for developing a conservation of biological corridor 5 in Bhutan.
— Phuntsho (2018) Senior Forest Ranger, Department of Forest and Parks Services, Bhutan