ACICA Pacific Islands Practitioner Scholarship Program
The ACICA Pacific Islands Practitioner Scholarship (Scholarship) supports up to two scholarships (on a biennial basis) to attend the International Arbitration Conference and Australian Arbitration Week (AAW). The Scholarship is offered through the ACICA Education Fund (Fund) Scholarship Program. The Fund was established by ACICA in 2016 and is funded by profits received from the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress hosted by ACICA in Sydney in 2018 and the annual ACICA Melbourne Arbitration Symposium.
The purpose of the ACICA Education Fund Scholarship Program is to provide scholarship recipients with the opportunity to gain and build their knowledge and skills in alternative dispute resolution and arbitration. It also aims to help recipients increase confidence, grow networks, cultivate opportunities, drive positive change and influence development within their communities.
Download a copy of the Scholarship Information Sheet here.
ACICA Pacific Islands Practitioner Scholarship
This Scholarship will be offered to legal practitioners admitted in a South Pacific jurisdiction with an alternative dispute resolution practice (ADR) and/or an interest in arbitration.
Each Scholarship will cover:
- Delegate registration at the International Arbitration Conference.
- Return economy airfares.
- Accommodation for up to five nights and a stipend for main meals and hotel transfers.
Applicants will be able to register to attend other events being held during AAW and will meet with members of the ACICA Secretariat during the week to obtain an understanding of the work carried out by ACICA.
Applicants will be responsible for obtaining the relevant visa for their stay in Australia.
Criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be admitted as a lawyer/barrister in a South Pacific jurisdiction (including Timor Leste and Micronesia) and located/based in a South Pacific jurisdiction.
- Have a minimum of 3 years’ post admission experience.
- Demonstrate an interest or practice in ADR and/or arbitration through submission of a short expression of interest statement.
- Confirm availability during the dates of AAW for the relevant year.
Assessment of Applications
Applications are reviewed by a selection panel comprised of Trustees of the ACICA Education Fund and other leading arbitration practitioners. Scholarships are awarded by the ACICA Education Fund Trustees. Decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The allocation of a Scholarship is subject to total funds available within the ACICA Education Fund Scholarship Program budget for the relevant year. Applications will be subject to review based on the Scholarship criteria and the provision of the required supporting documents.
A short list of applicants may be invited to participate in a short conversation by web conference with members of the selection panel.
Successful applicants will be notified by letter of the outcome of their application within 8 weeks, however unexpected delays might sometimes occur.
Submission of Applications
Applications are now closed.
About ACICA
The Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) is Australia’s international dispute resolution institution. Established in 1985 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation, ACICA’s objective is to promote and facilitate the efficient resolution of commercial disputes throughout Australia and internationally by arbitration and mediation, with the aim of delivering expediency and neutrality of process, enforceability of outcome and commercial privacy to parties in dispute.
About AAW & The International Arbitration Conference
ACICA hosts AAW annually, featuring events covering all aspects of arbitration and ADR. AAW aims to bring together communities and address issues relevant across Australia as well as globally. To this end, AAW travels to a different state each year and this year will be held in Melbourne from 11 to 16 October 2026.
The lead event in AAW is the International Arbitration Conference, a one-day conference which attracts Australian and international speakers and delegates and is followed by a networking reception. This year the International Arbitration Conference will be held on Monday, 12 October 2026 at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Contact Us
Please contact the ACICA Secretariat with any questions on secretariat@acica.org.au.
