Google Australia Gender Diversity Grants
PyCon Australia and Google Australia are pleased to announce that they're joining forces to offer gender diversity delegate grants to women who wish to attend PyCon Australia in 2012. These grants will cover up to $AUD500 of travel, accommodation and registration costs for women living outside of the Southern Tasmania region to attend this year's conference.
These grants aim to reduce the financial barriers to attending PyCon Australia 2012, by subsidising the registration and travel costs of people from diverse groups, who contribute in important ways to the Python community.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for one of the grants, you must be:
- A woman, aged 18 or older
- A professional, enthusiast or student interested in, or currently working in Python-related fields or projects
- Planning to attend both days of PyCon Australia 2012
In order to be eligible for the travel and accommodation grant, you must additionally: live further than 150 km (by road) from the conference venue.
(If you are unsure, please visit http://maps.google.com.au/maps/place?q=Wrest%20Point,%20Tasmania and use the "Get Directions" link in the upper left-hand corner to calculate the driving distance from your place of residence to the venue.)
Award Amount
All selected grant recipients will be extended the Early Bird registration rates to PyCon Australia, provided registration is completed prior to 13 July.
In addition, recipients of the travel and accommodation grant will be reimbursed up to $500 in travel and accommodation costs.
Timeline
Applications for the gender diversity delegates grants are open now, and will close on Friday 22 June We will notify all successful recipients of their award by Friday 29 June so that you can have ample time to complete your travel plans.
Application Process
The application consists of two parts: an application form to be completed online and a brief letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your involvement in the Python community. Both parts of the application must be received by the deadline above.
The application form may be completed online at http://2012.pycon-au.org/diversity_grants_application
Please note that the application form must be completed in a single session; we recommend composing your answers offline and pasting them in.
The letter of recommendation should be from someone who is familiar with you and your interest and involvement in the Python community (be that in the form of professional work, hobbyist projects, interest group involvement or similar), and be no more than one printed page in length. The person writing your recommendation should email us directly at diversity@pycon-au.org with the exact subject line of: “Gender Diversity Delegates Recommendation: <your name>”.
Selection Process
All applications will be evaluated by a panel including representatives of Linux Australia (PyCon Australia’s parent organisation) and PyCon Australia. Applications will be judged based on meeting the eligibility criteria, and demonstrated involvement in the Australian Python community.
Claim Process
If you are selected as a gender diversity delegate, you will receive an email from PyCon Australia confirming your selection, containing instructions on how to register for the conference. If you have already registered at a non early-bird rate, the balance of your registration will be refunded.
If you are awarded a monetary grant, you will be asked to provide receipts for your accommodation, travel and registration up to AUD $500, and will be reimbursed for your expenses within 28 days of submitting your receipts. No pre-payment of expenses will be paid.