Protocol's Policy Research Fellowship is a five-month program where young people are given the opportunity to work in small, interdisciplinary teams to tackle a live issue in Australian technology policy and make a real impact.
Over five months, you’ll join a small, youth-led Focus Area to tackle a live tech policy issue and advocate for real change. All Fellows will receive expert training & a valuable policy network.
Learn how it works ↓
Open to university students, recent graduates and young people from any background. No policy experience needed, just a passion for impact and belief in our vision.
Can I apply? ↓
Past Publications
You can explore the work of other Policy Research Fellows from previous Programs. These include policy papers, parliamentary inquiry submissions and opinion pieces.
See our publications
Should Australia make social media platforms legally responsible for the harm they cause? Who’s accountable when AI gets it wrong? Can our democracy survive deepfakes and bot networks?
These questions are being decided right now, and young Australians are rarely in the room. The Policy Research Program changes that. Each cohort, we select just 18 Fellows to spend five months tackling a live issue in Australian technology policy. In 2026, our Focus Areas included ‘Democracy and Tech’, ‘Digital Harms’ and ‘AI for All’.
It’s youth-led and demanding by design. Fellows commit one day a week, working in person in Brisbane or Sydney or online from anywhere in Australia.
01
Get selected
Places are limited and competitive. We’re looking for a passion for tech policy, rigorous approach to work and commitment to the Program.
02
Join a Focus Area
You’ll join a small, interdisciplinary team led by a Policy Research Lead Fellow in a Focus Area, and receive training from tech policy experts.
03
Dig in
One day a week, your group gets to the heart of the issue: what’s happening, what’s being done, and what should we be doing.
04
Make an impact
Your project ends with whatever the issue calls for, whether that’s a submission to government, a policy proposal, an open letter or a public campaign.
Real-world impact
Work on a live issue, and produce something designed to change the debate, not sit in a drawer.
Interdisciplinary teams
Work alongside some of the sharpest young minds in Australian tech policy, from law and engineering to political science and computer science.
Hands-on policy experience
Learn how policy is actually made, and how to influence it, by doing it.
Skills that transfer
Research, analysis, persuasive writing and advocacy, valued in government, law, consulting and tech.
Youth-led, start to finish
No lecturers, no supervisors. Run by young people, for young people. Your Working Group sets its own direction, makes its own calls and owns the result.
A network that lasts
Stay connected to Protocol and its community long after the program ends.
The Policy Research Fellowship is open to university students, recent graduates and young people from any background, whether that’s law, public policy, political science, international relations, computer science, engineering, maths or something else entirely.
You don’t need policy experience. We’re looking for a passion for tech policy, rigorous approach to work and commitment to the Program.
Time commitment: One day per week, February to July 2027.
Location: In person in Brisbane or Sydney if you live nearby, or online from anywhere in Australia.
Policy Research Lead Fellow
Lead a Working Group from January to July 2027. As a youth-led program, it’s your direction to set: you’ll keep the project on track and help turn good ideas into real impact. Suited to applicants with some research, policy or leadership experience.
Applications close 23 December 2026
Policy Research Fellow
Become one of 18 Policy Research Fellows tackling a live tech policy issue in a small, interdisciplinary Working Group. Our Fellows will receive training from tech policy experts. You'll be committing one day per week for five months, in person or online.
Applications close 16 January 2027
Digital Communications Correspondent
Can’t commit to the Fellowship? Correspondents follow one tech policy issue and keep our community up to date through accessible, fun content like explainers, short videos and social posts. A flexible way to get involved.
Applications close 16 January 2027
All deadlines are 11:59 pm AEST (Brisbane time).
Policy Research Lead Fellow applications close
Policy Research Fellow applications close
Digital Communications Correspondent applications close
Fellowship Orientation Day
Fellowship runs
From past participants
Zunairah Sinha
Bachelor of Law and Arts, University of Queensland · Semester 1 2026 Policy Research Program
