What are the Indigenous Staff Scholarships?
Indigenous Staff Scholarships provide professional development opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working at universities. The scholarships are part of the Australian Government’s plan to help improve education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in higher education.
Up to five national scholarships are awarded each year.
Who can apply?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees (academic or general) at an Australian university who actively encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete their higher education studies.
How do the scholarships work?
Successful applicants can take 12 months leave from their job to study full time in their chosen field. They receive up to $25,521 as a living allowance and up to $12,655 for tuition fees and student contribution amounts for the year. Amounts are indexed annually.
Scholarships will be awarded on merit against the selection criteria outlined in the guidelines on this website.
Priority is given to staff at postgraduate levels who have not previously received an Indigenous Staff Scholarship. However, interested Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff studying at the undergraduate level are also invited to apply.
Scholarship recipients will be selected by the Minister for Tertiary Education on advice from the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council.
Student case study - Jilda Simpson
Scholarship Recipients Announced
On November 7, the eight successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders nominees were presented with the Indigenous Staff Scholarships of up to $38,000 at an Indigenous Higher Education awards ceremony.
Dr Andrew Leigh, the Member for Fraser, presented the Indigenous Staff Scholarships on behalf of Senator, The Hon Evans at the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council dinner.
The Indigenous Staff Scholarships were presented to:
- Ann-Maree Hammond from the University of Southern Queensland;
- Mr Luke Halvorsen from the Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle;
- Ms Catherine Taylor and Mr Wayne Applebee from the University of Canberra;
- Mr James Charles and Ms Elizabeth Cameron from the University of Newcastle;
- Ms Cheree Dean from Charles Sturt University; and
- Ms Jonelle Green from La Trobe University.
Scholarship Guidelines for applicants
Indigenous Staff Scholarships requirements are detailed in Chapter 3 of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (CGS) in the Higher Education Support Act (HESA) 2003.
Reporting Templates
Scholarship recipients and their Higher Education Provider are required to submit progress reports.
Reporting templates for students and providers
For more information
Phone 1802 102 or email IndigenousStaffScholarships@deewr.gov.au.