Oorala Kick Start Scholarship

Background

This is a scholarship that is designed to help support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students with the costs of starting their tertiary studies. The scholarship aims to promote a relationship with Oorala for school leavers who are commencing study for the first time.

Details

Value per annum: $2,000 full-time / $1,000 part-time
Payment method:Bank account
Number awarded in 2024: 3
Duration: 1 year
Study Mode: On campus / Online
Study Load:Full time (3-4 units/18-24 credit points in Trimester 1)
Part-time (1-2 units/6-12 credit points in Trimester 1)
Course Type: Undergraduate and Enabling programs
New/Continuing students:New students to University studying for the first time (Year 12 school leavers and 1-2 year gap-year students)
Residential requirement:N/A
Application Closing Date:Extended to 11 March 2024

Who can apply?
  1. 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 University’s Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity Procedures

  2. Open to applicants who are school leavers (completing Year 12 or gap year/s students in 2023) who are commencing university study for the first time.

  3. Financial Disadvantage: Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need (see Supporting Documentation/Required Information below).

Selection criteria (in order of importance)

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

The statement of case

And

Financial need.

Notes

  1. Preference may be given to applicants not in receipt of another scholarship.
  2. Preference may be given to applicants whose permanent home address is classified as either regional or remote as defined by the Government Remoteness Tool 
  3. The scholarship shall be awarded on the recommendation of the Indigenous Scholarships Committee and administered by the UNE Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team.
  4. The Indigenous Scholarships Committee’s decision is final.
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 and/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 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 you have 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 other disadvantage. Tell us what you have done to address your situation, in light of the challenges you outlined.
How to apply

Applications for the Oorala Kick Start 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
  1. Undergraduate scholarship holders may not hold more than one UNE scholarship (excluding the UNE Residential Financial Assistance Scholarship and/or the Betty J Fyffe Scholarship) if the combined value is greater than six thousand dollars ($6,000) per annum.
  2. The scholarship is intended for the nominated course and may not be deferred or transferred.
  3. The scholarship is payable into the recipient’s bank account in two instalments: the first half between the Trimester 1 start date and the Trimester 1 census date to assist the recipient in getting set up for study; and the second instalment within 30 days after the Trimester 1 census date.
  4. Continuation of the scholarship, if applicable, is subject to:
    1. The scholar continuing to maintain eligibility in relation to their enrolment status as stipulated by the Scholarship terms.
  5. 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.
  6. Any request to vary the conditions of the scholarship must be made in writing and will be determined at the discretion of the Alumni Relations and Student Scholarships team (or other relevant committee).
  7. The Scholar may be required to attend the annual scholarships donor event if they are invited to do so, and may be asked to participate in activities to promote this scholarship and other scholarships in general, including public speaking, donor liaison, media interviews and photographs.
  8. Some scholarships may affect other government payments (e.g. Centrelink). It is the recipient’s responsibility to seek advice from the relevant government agency.
  9. From time to time minor changes may be required to the administrative conditions of this scholarship. If this occurs recipients will be given advanced notice in writing. Donors will also be consulted where appropriate.
  10. Failure to meet the requirements of these terms and conditions may lead to the termination of the scholarship and/or your being required to repay any instalment already received.
Acceptance

In accepting the Oorala Kick Start Scholarship the recipient acknowledges that they have read, understand and accept the terms and conditions outlined above.