Make a difference to the emergency services in Victoria
2027 ESF Scholarships supported by Rotary
The aim of the ESF scholarship program is to provide an opportunity for both paid staff and volunteer personnel from ESF member agencies to undertake a study tour that will lead to improvements in Victoria’s emergency management sector. It provides successful applicants with a valuable opportunity for self-enrichment and career advancement through the pursuit of knowledge and experience on a topic they are passionate about.
ESF scholarships are not for completion of tertiary or other qualifications.
ESF has granted scholarships since 1988 to provide recipients with funds to cover the expense of travel to advance their knowledge and expertise. Scholarship recipients become ESF Alumni and are encouraged to maintain their association with the ESF and support its work.
Due to travel restrictions associated with COVID-19 pandemic no scholarships were awarded in 2020 or 2021.
In the past, topics of research have been varied. In line ESFs strategic direction, priority will be given to applications that address evidence and knowledge gaps in relation to mental health and wellbeing for all people working in emergency mangament.
❌ Applications for the 2027 ESF Scholarships, supported by Rotary, have now closed. ❌
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. We look forward to reviewing the applications and sharing updates on the successful recipients in due course.
Scholarship Alumni
2026
We’re excited to announce the recipients of this year’s ESF Scholarships:
- Kat Horton (DEECA FFM) will explore best practices in managing cumulative fatigue, particularly in relation to campaign events.
- Irina Tchernitskaia (FRV) will be researching Post-Traumatic Growth: a topic that gives hope for recovery and can potentially protect and promote the mental health of our emergency service personnel.
- Thomas Barber (FRV) will study leading practice organisational approaches to psychedelic-assisted therapy and how emerging treatments might support emergency service workers experiencing ongoing psychological distress.
All three recipients will be allocated an academic mentor to guide their thinking and plans. All are heading to Canada in 2026 and we can’t wait to follow their study tours and share their learnings.
2025
In 2025 Paul Fitzgerald and Mark Welch from Fire Rescue Victoria were awarded ESF Scholarships supported by Rotary.
2024
In 2024 Matt Nicholson and Jesse Winter from Fire Rescue Victoria were awarded ESF Scholarships supported by Rotary. Their reports are available to read below.
Matt’s research is featured in Issue 95 of the Asian Pacific Fire magazine. In his article, “Fatigue Culture in the Fire Service”, the Senior Officer explores how chronic stress and disrupted rest have become normalised – and why tackling fatigue is vital for the health and performance of our people. Matt explains how addressing the entrenched fatigue culture within the fire service requires a comprehensive, tiered approach to sleep intervention and suggests solutions that operate across individual, organisational, and governmental levels.
2023
In 2023 Peter Romanis was awarded the ESF Scholarship. Peter undertook a study on compassion fatigue, the findings of which can be found here.
“I’m heartened by the positive reception my report on Compassion Fatigue. It’s gratifying to see the meaningful discussions it has sparked. I am actively engaged in further dialogues to explore how we can translate the recommendations into tangible, improved practices. These ongoing conversations are crucial for fostering positive outcomes, ensuring that our dedicated emergency service professionals and volunteers received the support and resources they need to thrive in their demanding roles.”
2019
The 2019 ESF scholarships awardees, Greg Dean, Ti Hokins, Marcus Warner, and Dennis Smith, showcased their study findings and recommendations as part of the 2020 Emergency Management Conference.
2016
In 2016 Gavin Parker was awarded the ESF Scholarship. Gavin investigated best practices for emergency response to brown coal (lignite) mining and combustible dust fires and incidents in open cut coal mines, power generation and clean coal energy facilities, the findings of which can be found here.
In this month’s Asia Pacific Fire Magazine. Part 1 of a 2-part article on coal fires. It provides an overview of considerations for fires in coal mines and coal handling facilities. It includes some of the knowledge gained during the ESF scholarship. The article can be found here.
Gavin Parker was later presented with the Australian Fire Service Medal.