The Australian Prime Ministers Centre is delighted to announce the Summer Scholarships recipients for 2011-12 are Hannah Altern, Guy Betts and Bethany Peddlesden-Phillips.

Ms Hannah Altern is undertaking Honours in Modern History, at Macquarie University. Her research project will examine the role of individual prime ministers in facilitating multiculturalism and in promoting a culturally inclusive society. The research will focus on former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.

Mr Guy Betts has recently completed Honours in History, at the University of Sydney. His research project will explore and evaluate the effectiveness of Whitlam Government urban development policies on the outer-suburbs of Australian cities. This will include an assessment of their lasting impact on the Western Sydney region today.

Ms Bethany Phillips-Peddlesden is studying Honours in History, at Melbourne University. Her research proposal will examine the dual role of prime ministers as parents and leaders and what this may reveal about our understanding of power, family and gender in Australian society. This research will contribute to her Honours thesis which examines the interaction of public and personal lives and relationships of those in leadership positions in Australian politics.

Summer Scholarships enable tertiary students to research the history, origins, traditions and contemporary practice of Australian democracy, with particular reference to Australian Prime Ministers. Scholars can choose to undertake a research project which contributes to the public history program at the Museum of Australian Democracy or they may propose an independent research topic.

Find out more about the Summer Scholarship program