Academic Governance

Gwen Nettlefold was born in Hobart in 1961 and educated at Waimea Heights Primary School and Fahan School. She trained as a nurse, a naturopath and completed a Bachelor of Communications before embarking on her doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Tasmania. Her ability as a philosopher rapidly became apparent and she made a significant contribution to the School of Philosophy as a member of staff, a colleague and undergraduate tutor. Her doctoral thesis was virtually complete when a brain aneurysm tragically ended her life in November 2001. The University of Tasmania awarded her doctorate posthumously in December 2002.

Family, friends and colleagues have endowed this scholarship in her memory to encourage mature-aged women to undertake PhD study in any discipline in the Faculty of Arts, with a preference for philosophy.

The Academic Senate has agreed to the foundation of a scholarship in the terms agreed in these rules.

Rules

1. An initial amount of $15,000, a subsequent $100,000 donation by the Nettlefold family, together with a matching $100,000 contribution from the University of Tasmania through the University Foundation and $5,000 from the Faculty of Arts, along with any interest, forms the endowment of a scholarship to be called the "Dr Gwen Nettlefold Memorial Elite Research Scholarship”.

2. The University of Tasmania will contribute an annual non-endowed component towards the scholarship at the Australian Postgraduate Award rate, or the rate of any subsequent scholarship scheme of the Australian Government.

3. The scholarship is to be awarded to a female PhD candidate, over the age of 30 in any discipline in the Faculty of Arts, with a preference for philosophy.

4. The scholarship will be awarded following nominations from the relevant disciplines by the following selection committee:

- the Dean of the Faculty of Arts (or nominee);
- two members of the Nettlefold Family (while they wish to be involved);
- a female academic staff member in the Faculty of Arts appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, with preference for an academic in Philosophy; and
- the Dean of Graduate Research (or nominee).

5. The scholarship is tenable for three years, with a possible six-month extension.

6. One scholarship will be offered at any time, with the scholarship being open to competition at any time it is not held by a PhD candidate.

7. The selection and performance criteria will be in accordance with the University of Tasmania’s eligibility requirements for admission to PhD under the Elite Research Scholarships Program.

8. The University of Tasmania Foundation will set the annual value of the scholarship from time to time, in consultation with the Dean of Graduate Research, having regard to the income from the endowment and the annual contribution from the University of Tasmania.

Made by Academic Senate on 11 November 2011.