Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) Centennial Prize

To commemorate 100 years of federal conciliation and arbitration, members of the AIRC established a trust to fund the AIRC Centennial Prize – an annual award offered to students at The University of Melbourne.

In 1904 the Commonwealth Parliament established the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court.  While it has changed its name, and its functions have evolved, this institution has remained central to regulating work and labour standards in Australia. Today, the role of the AIRC has continued through the Fair Work Commission.

NUMBER OF PLACES

1 place available each year.

BENEFITS

The winner of the AIRC Centennial Prize will receive a cash prize equal to the net annual income of the fund and a commemorative certificate of the award.

ELIGIBILITY

The prize is open to undergraduate and graduate students who have undertaken study in the Faculty of Business and Economics or the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

This may be in the form of a degree or specialisation offered by these two Faculties, or study in an individual subject.

The thesis or essay must have been submitted or be ready for submission (for the enrolled course of study) by the application deadline.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Students must apply online, including a signed application form and submit 3 hard copies of their research work to:

The Faculty of Business and Economics
Scholarships Manager
Level 4, The Spot (Building 110) 
The University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC, 3010

Please note: Copies will not be returned

SELECTION PROCESS

To be considered for the AIRC Centennial prize, the research work (thesis or essay) must be in the area of Industrial Relations or Labour History. These areas are interpreted broadly to include essays or thesis in any of the following areas:

• Industrial relations, employment relations, workplace relations
• Human resource management, personnel administration, careers, and organisational behaviour.
• Labour economics and labour market analysis.
• Labour law, labour market regulation, including aspects of public policy related to work, social protection and labour market policies, and labour market institutions.
• Labour history, and the history of work, employment practices, labour markets and labour market institutions.

There is no set word length for submissions – and submissions are encouraged from both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The selection of the best research work submitted in the year will be based on the quality of the essay or thesis and its relevance to contemporary policy concerns and debates.

The prize will be awarded by the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Business and Economics, upon recommendation of the Deans (or nominees), after consultation with a representative from the President of the Fair Work Commission.

OUTCOME OF APPLICATION

Applicants will be notified via email.

DEFERRING

No deferral is allowed.