OMEP Australia Travel Fund Award
The Travel Fund supports Awardees' attendance at the OMEP World Assembly and Conference, which will be held from July 14 to 18, 2026, in Pozań, Poland. The award is $4000, and two awards will be granted.
About
The OMEP Board invites you to apply for the OMEP Australia Travel Fund Award. It is made possible through the generous bequest of Rosamonde Combes, a respected early childhood educator and long-standing member of the international OMEP community.
The purpose of the Travel Fund is to support Awardees' attendance at the OMEP World Assembly and Conference, which will be held from July 14 to 18, 2026, in Pozań, Poland. The award is $4000, and two awards will be granted. The Award is intended as a contribution to the costs of travel and attendance rather than to cover all costs.
Rosamonde Combes was part of the founding generation of early childhood education in Australia. In the 1940s, she helped establish one of Canberra’s first nursery programs, providing care for children of working families during wartime.
Through her long involvement with OMEP, she contributed to building an international professional community in early childhood education, supporting collaboration and shared learning. She held a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region and was recognised as a world OMEP Honorary Member.
Her bequest established the very generous Rosamonde Combes Travel Fund Award, enabling Australian educators to share their work internationally and participate in the global OMEP community.
From early nursery programs in Canberra to contemporary conferences across Europe and Asia, Rosamonde’s legacy continues to create opportunities for educators and to strengthen Australian contributions to global early childhood discussions.
The winner of OMEP Australia Travel Fund Award
l 2026: Leanne Gibbs
l 2025: Sarsha Mennell, Joanne Ng
Application is open to all OMEP members (except the National President).
We invite you to complete the online Application Form below to apply for the Award.
Please be sure to attend to the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
- Applications must be received by the due date, 6th February 2026, and be complete.
- Applicants must be a current member of OMEP Australia.
- Applicants must demonstrate how they have contributed to OMEP Australia.
- Applicants should provide a compelling argument for why they should be awarded the Travel Award
- Applicants should ideally be presenting a paper at the OMEP conference or at least have submitted an abstract.
Please submit your application by the closing date above.
An email will be sent to you confirming receipt of your application with 5 working days. You will be advised of the outcome of your application by 6 March 2026.
If you have any questions about the Travel Award selection process please contact [email protected]
OMEP Travel Fund Application Form
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OMEP Australia is the Australian arm of the Organisation Mondiale pour l’Éducation Préscolaire (OMEP) or the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education.