INDIGENOUS EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

Unity Foundation & MacKillop Family Services

The aim of the educational scholarships will be to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete their schooling, through the provision of financial and other support.

Information about the scholarships

There will be twenty scholarships per year.

Ten scholarships of $1,000 each will be available to secondary school students and ten scholarships to the value of $400 each will be available to primary school students.

Efforts will be made to link scholarship recipients with support and activities they may need to assist them in completing school. This may include support through the Unity Foundation. This may include mentoring, attendance at events or other activities.

Eligibility for scholarships

There are only two requirements for eligibility for this scholarship

Secondary and Primary School students: This scholarship is open to all primary and secondary students within the regions which MacKillop Family Services' operate. A letter from a school principal or class room teacher should be included in the application. The applicant must be either a secondary or primary school student within North Western Metro, Southern Metro or Barwon regions.

Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity: If this requirement is difficult to obtain, VACCA, Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative, Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place, the KEDO or the LAECG Chair may write a letter of support.

The nomination and selection process

There are three ways in which nominations may happen.

On application: The applicant can apply in person, by email, post or fax.

Parents or carers may also apply on the child or young person's behalf.

Organisation nomination: Organisations can also apply on the applicant's behalf. These organisations can be schools or Aboriginal community organisations (including VACCA and LAECG's), and KEDO's.

Re-applying

There is capacity to continue the scholarship for the successful recipient; however they must state this in their application when reapplying. It is also encouraged that applicants apply for other scholarships that are available. Those applicants who were unsuccessful in the previous year can reapply.

The selection of recipients will be by the Indigenous Education Scholarship Panel, which includes representatives from the Unity Foundation and MacKillop Indigenous Issues Steering Committee (MIISC). The Panel will decide the scholarship recipients, based on the information provided in the application and other information provided by their community. The panel will ensure fair and equal distribution of the scholarship.

As the number of scholarships in any one year will be limited, the Panel may need to select recipients from among the applicants. The panel will decide on the scholarship recipients on the basis of the benefit to the applicant of receiving the scholarship.

This assessment may be based on a number of factors, including –

Any special gifts or talents of the child or young person
The risk of the child or young person leaving school if not provided with additional support or encouragement
The needs or situation of the young person or his/ her family.

How will the scholarships be given?

There are a number of ways in which the scholarship may be provided -

Reimbursement: The Scholarship may be provided directly to the recipient as a reimbursement of costs, upon receipts being presented.
Paid directly to school: The school may be paid directly for any expense the recipient may like the scholarship used for.
Paid directly to recipient: The scholarship may be paid directly to the recipient.
Paid to a Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LAECG): The scholarship may be provided through the LAECG to allocate to the recipient.

About MacKillop Family Services

MacKillop Family Services is a support organisation formed in 1997 by the coming together of seven Victorian child welfare agencies.

MacKillop is one of the largest providers of specialist support services to some of Victoria's most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families. Services are located throughout metropolitan Melbourne – in the southern, western and northern suburbs – and throughout the Barwon region. Several of our services have a state-wide intake.

MacKillop works closely with an Indigenous Issues Steering Committee, comprising representatives of Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative, Western Suburbs Indigenous Gathering Place, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups and Koori Education Development Officers.