The Dr Paul McGinn Research Scholarship
Friends of the Prom invites applications from Honours or postgraduate students at Australian universities for the Dr Paul McGinn Research Scholarship. The scholarship supports research in terrestrial, aquatic or marine environments at Wilsons Promontory that contributes to knowledge about biodiversity conservation or management.
The annual award is $2,500 and is offered in memory of Dr Paul McGinn, who had a deep connection with the Prom. It is made possible through the generous donation of Paul’s wife Regina, who writes:
'Paul cared deeply about the Prom – his spiritual place since he spent his first holidays there as an eight-year-old. Numerous summer holidays were spent there with his family and friends. As a young doctor the Prom was the place to reconnect to nature and to help him cope with the stress and pressure. Paul was diagnosed with cancer in April 2024. In the time until his death, in February 2026, he stayed at the Prom as often as possible and – being close to nature – was able to accept his diagnoses and to find peace.'
Priority areas of research should align with the 2025 Conservation Action Plan for Wilsons Promontory parks and reserves. Research topics might address threats such as inappropriate fire regimes, weed and pathogen invasion, herbivore grazing and browsing pressure, predation by foxes and cats, marine invasive or overabundant species, human disturbance (visitor impacts and natural resource use), and climate change – or key attributes such as threatened species and communities, cultural heritage, or the Prom Sanctuary.
Written applications or enquiries should be sent to the Secretary (info@friendsoftheprom.org.au) outlining the project, the project supervisor and tertiary institution, and the project’s relevance to conservation and park management. In-progress projects will also be considered. Applications will be assessed by a subcommittee of Friends of the Prom with representation from Parks Victoria on 20 February 2027. If the scholarship is not awarded then, further applications will be assessed at our AGM on the last Sunday of July.