Oorala Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship

Background

An Oorala initiative, this Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship was developed to encourage and support students to experience life in Wright College during their study journey at UNE.

Details

Value per annum:

up to $11,200

Payment method:Residential Fee Account
Number awarded:up to 4
Duration:52 weeks, commencing 19 February 2024
Study Mode:On campus / Online
Study Load: Full-time or Part-time (minimum 24 credit points per academic year)
Course Type:Enabling course (Pathways, Tracks)
Bachelor degree (including Honours)
Postgraduate
New/Continuing Students:New and continuing students
Geographic requirement:Permanent home address in regional or remote area
Residential requirement:The recipient is required to reside in Wright College
Application Closing Date:Extended to 26 February 2024

Who can apply?
  1. Australian Citizen/Permanent Resident: The applicant must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident as defined by the Commonwealth
  2. Student and Course Requirement: Open to UNE students enrolled in an Enabling (Pathways, TRACKS), Bachelor degree (including Honours), or Postgraduate course.
  3. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule
  4. Financial Disadvantage: Priority will be given to students that can demonstrate a financial need (see Supporting documents/Required information below)
  5. Geographic Requirement: The applicant’s permanent home address is classified as regional or remote (ASGS Remoteness Areas 2-5) as defined by the Government Remoteness Tool 
  6. Living in College: The applicant is living or intending to live at Wright College for the duration of the scholarship (see Conditions for specific requirements of this scholarship)
Supporting documents/Required information

The listed documents are acceptable forms of evidence in each of the following criteria:

  1. Financial Need:
    1. Complete the Financial Need Details section of the UNE Scholarship Application Form
    2. The applicant should attach evidence to support financial need, which may be one or more of the following (as determined in Financial Need Details section of application form):
      • Evidence of your income/expected income
      • Evidence of most recent and regular Centrelink/payments
      • Evidence of partners income
      • Evidence of parents’/guardians’ income/s

      Evidence of income can include:

      • Income Tax Returns*
      • Regular payslips
      • Centrelink Statement/s
      • A letter from an authorised person (e.g. community leader, school principal, minister of religion, accountant) that comments on your financial circumstances

      *Note: if the most recent financial year income information is not available, previous financial year income information may be used and must be accompanied with a letter from an accountant that comments on the estimated similarity/differences.

  2. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander: The applicant must identify as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide documentation according to the UNE Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Rule
  3. Statement of Case:
    1. Why are you studying your chosen course and what are your career aspirations?
    2. Tell us about your personal strengths, leadership, and community activities you are involved in. How have you used them to make a difference in the lives of others?
    3. What impact will NOT receiving the scholarship have on your studies?
    4. What special conditions or obstacles have you overcome in your path to study? e.g. financial, geographic, cultural, or another disadvantage. Tell us what you have done to address your situation, in light of the challenges you outlined.
Selection criteria (in order of importance)

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of (in order):

Statement of Case

Then

Financial need

Notes
  • Preference may be given to applicants not in receipt of another scholarship.
  • The scholarship shall be awarded on the recommendation of Oorala Scholarships Committee and administered by the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team.
  • By applying for this scholarship, you, the applicant, permits the University to give some personal details contained in their application to the donor, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  • The Selection Committee's decision is final.
How to apply

Applications for the Oorala Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship should be made through the Application for University of New England Scholarship/s Form.

Only complete applications will be processed, so please ensure that you have submitted all required documentation with your application. The Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team will notify you via email when your application has been processed.

Conditions

General Conditions

  1. The scholarship is intended for the nominated course and may not be deferred or transferred.
  2. The scholarship is payable into the recipient’s residential fee account in two instalments within 30 days following the Trimester 1 and 2 census dates. For the first period of 26 weeks' residence, 100% of the fees for a studio room in Wright College ($287 per week) will be covered by the scholarship. For the second period of 26 weeks' residence, 50% of the fees ($143.50 per week) will be paid by the scholarship, with the student responsible for paying the remainder.
  3. Continuation of the scholarship, if applicable, is subject to:
    1. The student continuing to maintain eligibility in relation to their enrolment status as stipulated by the Scholarship Terms.
    2. Submission of a brief Donor Report upon request each year reporting on progress with their studies and involvement in sporting, cultural and community activities as well as participation in university life, where applicable. In submitting this report, the recipient understands that some of the information and/or personal details contained in each report will be sent to the Donor/Trustee/Committee/School, who may not be UNE staff. All information gathered will be treated with discretion.
  4. If you wish to make any significant changes to your enrolment (e.g. change of degree, study mode and/or load) you must notify the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team prior to doing so. If you no longer satisfy the criteria and conditions of the scholarship, you may not retain it.
  5. Any request to vary the terms and/or conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team (in consultation with relevant Donor/Trustee/Committee/School/Head of College).
  6. If at any time during the scholarship term the student is found to have committed behavioural misconduct in accordance with the University’s Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules, the scholarship will be terminated and any outstanding payments to be made under the scholarship will not be paid.  You may also be required to repay any instalment already received. Students who are residential college residents are also subject to the Residential College Code of Conduct.
  7. Some scholarships may affect other government payments (e.g. Centrelink). It is the recipient’s responsibility to seek advice from the relevant government agency.
  8. From time to time minor changes may be required to the administrative conditions of this scholarship. If this occurs recipients will be given advance notice in writing. Donors will also be consulted where appropriate.
  9. Failure to meet the requirements of these Terms and Conditions may lead to the termination of the scholarship.

Enrolment Notes and Definitions

  • Full-time is defined at UNE as an enrolment of 48 credit points in the academic year.
  • Part-time for this scholarship is defined as a minimum enrolment of 24 credit points in the academic year.
  • Enrolment is required for Trimester 1 and 2 study periods (with Trimester 3 optional), where if there is no active enrolment in these periods and a request for a leave of absence from their scholarship is not made and approved to the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team, the scholarship may be suspended.
  • If a problem presents in meeting the above requirements, the recipient must liaise with the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team to discuss their specific situation.

Scholarship Specific Conditions

  1. The recipient is required to reside in Wright College for the duration of the scholarship.
  2. The scholarship covers the fees for a studio room in Wright college only. Any room upgrade selected will be paid for by the student. Any overpayments of scholarship funds cannot be redeemed by the student.
  3. Recipients of this scholarship are expected to utilise the services and support offered by the Oorala Aboriginal Centre on campus.
Acceptance

In accepting the Oorala Indigenous Accommodation Scholarship, the recipient acknowledges that they have read, understand and accept the Terms and Conditions specified above.