Five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are among 75 Australians from all walks of life awarded Churchill Fellowships in 2026.
Each recipient will travel overseas to learn from international experience and bring that knowledge back to benefit communities across Australia.
Christine Dacey, chief executive officer of the Churchill Trust, said this year's Churchill Fellowship recipients reflected the breadth of ideas and experience across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Michael Betteridge, a proud First Nations man with family connections through the Gamilaraay lands around the Pilliga and Murri country in South West Queensland, who lives in New South Wales, will explore how Indigenous communities internationally use tourism to support cultural survival, truth-telling and community wellbeing.
"I believe tourism can be a powerful force for cultural strength, healing, economic independence and reconciliation when Indigenous communities have genuine control over how their stories are shared," he said.
Rehanna Coulthard, an Adnyamathanha woman living in South Australia, will learn from First Nations peoples who operate successful, community-controlled cultural tourism businesses, examining governance, women-led leadership, cultural protection, employment pathways and visitor education.
"My work demonstrates that Aboriginal people are best placed to share our own stories and create experiences that leave a lasting impact," she said.
Thomas Molyneux, a Gunditjmara man from Victoria, will investigate how Indigenous-led festivals internationally design and deliver programming that is culturally grounded while engaging broad audiences.
"I believe that storytelling and shared cultural moments bring us closer together, fostering the deep understanding that leads to greater harmony and compassionate communities," he said.
Samantha Laughton, an Eastern Arrernte filmmaker from Mparntwe in the Northern Territory, will investigate how globally recognised film genres fused with First Nations authorship may positively influence the position of Australian cinematic film throughout major international film territories.
"It became apparent - First Nations stories required creative sovereignty, community oriented support and a cultural bridge, genre - to contribute to authentic and richer Australian screen narratives that cross global borders," she said.
Sarah Williams is a proud Awabakal woman who now resides in Victoria, who will investigate global interventions preventing sexual violence in dating app contexts and translate findings into policy, platform accountability and education in Australia.
"I believe no one should have to carry the weight of sexual violence alone, because I've carried it myself," she said.
"That experience is what drives everything I do now."
Applications for 2027 open in February. Open to every Australian and permanent resident over 18 years of age.
