Townsville Hospital & Health Service Indigenous Academic Merit Scholarship

If all the below statements describe you and your current situation, you can apply for this scholarship:

• Identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
• Undertaking a clinical placement at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service; and
• Are or will be enrolled in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of the JCU Bachelor of Nursing Science, Bachelor of Nursing-Bachelor of Midwifery;
• Are enrolled full time (minimum of 9 credit points per semester); and
• Have passed all subjects in the previous semester (min GPA 4.0).

Note: All prior recipients are required to reapply annually.

If you are a successful recipient of this scholarship you will receive $6,000 paid in two equal instalments after results release date of Study Period 1 and Study Period 2. Please allow up to six weeks from results release to receive payments.

The awarded recipient may also be offered:

• An undergraduate clinical placement at the THHS, subject to the terms of the Queens land Health Student Placement Deed (Group A)
• An interview for the THHS nursing and midwifery graduate program in accordance with the Queensland Health and THHS requirements (subject to recruitment and selection process)
• Mentoring support as determined by the Clinical Nurse Consultant, Indigenous Health,THHS tailored academic support during the relevant student year by JCU.

Prior to completing an application, you should carefully read the Scholarship Rules below.
Applicants wanting to apply for this scholarship must upload the following documents with their application submission:

• A written statement of no more than 500 words addressing:
  1. Your aspirations and motivations for nursing and midwifery; and
  2. How the scholarship will assist you.
• A statutory declaration confirming Aboriginality; and
• A copy of their curriculum vitae; and
• At least 2 references, attesting to the applicant's good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship, one of which must be from a JCU Indigenous Academic Support Advisor (ierc@jcu.edu.au)
• Any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion of the candidate and their suitability for the award.

When applying for a scholarship it is very important that you ensure that you include all relevant documents (including a completed application) and that your application is submitted before the closing date.  If an application is incomplete, it will not be considered.

Your application is checked for completeness and eligibility, and you will receive an email confirmation it has been received. After the closing date it will be individually assessed and put forward to a selection committee who will rank your application against others who have applied.

Introduction

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service Indigenous Academic Merit scholarship

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service indigenous academic merit scholarship was inaugurated in 2018 by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS). The academic merit scholarship is a combined strategy of the University to increase progression and completion rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the JCU Bachelor of Nursing Science and the Bachelor of Nursing Science ‐ Bachelor of Midwifery and the Townsville Hospital and Health Service to improve health service access and health outcomes for the regions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through developing a nursing and midwifery workforce that reflects the diversity of our community

The academic merit scholarship is awarded to successful students studying Bachelor of Nursing Science or Bachelor of Nursing Science ‐ Bachelor of Midwifery. This scholarship is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.

Eligibility Criteria

The Townsville Hospital and Health Service Indigenous Academic Merit Scholarship shall be open to competition among candidates who:

• Identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
• Undertaking a clinical placement at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
• Are or will be enrolled in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of the JCU Bachelor of Nursing Science, Bachelor of Nursing-Bachelor of Midwifery;
• Are enrolled full time (minimum of 9 credit points per semester); and
• Have passed all subjects in the previous semester (min GPA 4.0)

Note: All prior recipients are required to reapply annually.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Criteria are:

• academic merit or potential;
• demonstrate commitment to successful study;
• letters of reference; and
• any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the candidate has, or will receive any other scholarship or academic merit award assistance during their studies.

Application Procedures

Applications must be submitted on the official application form no later than the date set by the Selection Committee for the year in which the award is to be made.

Applicants must submit with the official form, where appropriate:

• A written statement of no more than 500 words addressing:
  1. Your aspirations and motivations for nursing and midwifery; and
  2. How the scholarship will assist you.

• A statutory declaration confirming Aboriginality; and
• A copy of their curriculum vitae; and
• At least 2 references, attesting to the applicant's good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship, one of which must be from a JCU Indigenous Academic Support Advisor (ierc@jcu.edu.au)
• Any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion of the candidate and their suitability for the award.

Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.

Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant’s good character and suitability to receive the academic merit award, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant’s academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.

Selection Process

The award of the academic merit award shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Deputy Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Education and Strategy, or Head, Indigenous Student Services (CHAIR);
• Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery THHS, or nominee;
• Head, Nursing and Midwifery JCU, or nominee;
• Other members deemed appropriate, as determined by the Chair

The Selection Committee reserves the right to not award the scholarship in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award.

The Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.

The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the selection of the Academic merit award awardee.

Nature and payment of the Scholarship

The value of the scholarship shall be $6,000 paid in two equal instalments after results release date of study period 1 and study period 2. Payment may take up to 6 weeks from results release date.

The award recipient may also be offered:

• An undergraduate clinical placement at the THHS, subject to the terms of the Queensland Health Student Placement Deed (Group A)
• An interview for the THHS nursing and midwifery graduate program in accordance with the Queensland Health and THHS requirements (subject to recruitment and selection process)
• Mentoring support as determined by the Clinical Nurse Consultant, Indigenous Health, THHS tailored academic support during the relevant student year by JCU.

Ongoing Eligibility

Ongoing eligibility for this scholarship relates to between semester in year awarded, students are required to reapply annually to be considered in the pool for awarding each year.  To receive payment 1 and 2 in the year student is awarded, the ongoing eligibility is as follows:

• The recipient must remain enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing Science or the Bachelor of Nursing Science ‐ Bachelor of Nursing Science- Bachelor of Midwifery at JCU and maintain a minimum of a pass in all subjects (Min GPA 4.0).
• The recipient must be enrolled full time in a minimum of 9 credit points.

Conditions of the Scholarship

• The recipient must meet all ongoing eligibility requirements to receive payments.
• If the recipient defers their study, the scholarship will be terminated.
• The recipient of the scholarship shall continue to receive the award on condition that in the opinion of the Selection Committee, and on advice from the Head of the Academic Group in which the recipient is undertaking a course of study, that the recipient maintains a satisfactory level of performance.
• The recipient may hold another scholarship, but are advised to review Centrelink income thresholds where relevant.
• A student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Complaints Policy and Procedures.

Administration of the Scholarship

• The award shall be administered by the Scholarships Office, on behalf of the Selection Committee.
• The funds of the award shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by Scholarship Office.
• Where there is a fund maintaining the award, the annual value of the award shall be approximately equal to the annual income from the fund.
  Income from a fund not expended on the award which it maintains, shall be added to and become part of the fund.
• Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants, and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.
• Refer to Glossary of Terms