Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Scholarship

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

• I am an Australian citizen; and
• I am a South Sea Islander who is a direct descendant of the South Sea Islanders who were brought into Queensland between 1863 and 1904 and worked as indentured labourers (Note: Applicants should seek a letter of support from a registered Australian South Sea Islander organisation verifying his / her Australian South Sea Islander heritage); and
• I have not previously completed an undergraduate degree; and
• I am intending to enrol or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program (either part time or full time) at James Cook University.

If you are a successful applicant of this scholarship you will receive $5,000 per year. If funding permits, the funder may decide to extend your scholarship for the duration of your undergraduate program, provided you continue to meet the on-going eligibility requirements. Scholarship payments will be made in two equal instalments after census dates of Study Period 1 and 2. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census date for payment.

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

• A copy of your academic record from any other academic institution, including secondary school;
• Two written references attesting to your good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship;
• A copy of your resume outlining work experience, community volunteer and other activities;
• A written statement outlining:
  • Your motivation to complete your tertiary studies;
  • How the scholarship will assist with your university studies;
  • Your current family and support network situation;
  • Any personal hardship you may be experiencing including medical conditions, disabilities or dependants;
  • Do you currently qualify for Abstudy payments?
• A letter of support from a registered Australian South Sea Islander organisation.

When applying for a scholarship it is very important that you answer all the questions and include all relevant documents.  Your application and relevant documents must be 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. Applicants may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Introduction

The purpose of the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation scholarship program is to improve educational opportunities for Australian South Sea Islanders by making available scholarships for undergraduate university students at a participating Queensland-based universities.

The Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation, sub-fund of the Queensland Community Foundation, was established by Queensland Government in 2001 as a permanent legacy for the Australian South Sea Islander community.

Australian South Sea Islanders are a distinct cultural group with a unique history and position in Australian society. They are the Australian-born direct descendants of people who were brought to Australia between 1863 and 1904 to work as indentured labourers in the primary industries. More than 50,000 people, predominantly men, were brought from some 80 Pacific Islands, primarily Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and the majority were kidnapped, ‘blackbirded’ or deceived into coming.

Australian South Sea Islanders have contributed significantly to the social, cultural and economic development of Queensland, despite the hardship and discrimination faced by the community.

This scholarship is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.

Nature of the Scholarship

Successful applicants will receive $5,000 per year. If funding permits, the funder may decide to extend a students' scholarship for the duration of their undergraduate program, provided the student continues to meet the on-going eligibility requirements. Scholarship payments will be made in two equal instalments after census dates of Study Period 1 and 2. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census date for payment.

Eligibility Criteria

The Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Scholarship shall be open to competition among applicants who:

• Are Australian citizens;
• Are South Sea Islanders who are a direct descendant of the South Sea Islanders who were brought into Queensland between 1863 and 1904 and worked as indentured labourers;
• Have not previously completed an undergraduate degree;
• Are intending to enrol or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program (either part time or full time) at James Cook University.

Selection Criteria

Preference, as determined at the discretion of the university, will be given to applicants who:

• demonstrate a high degree of motivation to complete tertiary studies (25%)
• have a financial need and demonstrate how the scholarship will assist with university study (25%)
• demonstrate academic merit (25%)
• do not qualify for Abstudy (25%)

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 copy of your academic record from any other academic institution, including secondary school;
• Two written references attesting to your good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship;
• A copy of your resume outlining work experience, community volunteer and other activities;
• A written statement outlining:
  • Your motivation to complete your tertiary studies;
  • Your current family and support network situation;
  • How the scholarship will assist with your university studies;
  • Do you currently qualify for Abstudy payments?
• A letter of support from a registered Australian South Sea Islander organisation.

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 character and suitability to receive the scholarship, 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 scholarship shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Head, Indigenous Student Services (CHAIR), or nominee,
• Director, Academic Program Quality,
• Other members as suggested by Chair.
• **OR a pool of appropriate JCU representatives

The Selection Committee reserves the right not to award a Scholarship in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no applicant 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 Scholarship awardee.

Payment

Monies payable to the recipient of this award shall be paid in two equal instalments each year after the census date of Study Period 1 and 2. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census date for payment.

Ongoing Eligibility

There is no guarantee of ongoing scholarship commitment. However, where funding is available and a recipient meets the following on-going criteria, they may be offered a further scholarship for continuing year/s of study.

To be eligible for consideration of on-going scholarship payments, the recipients must:

• Remain enrolled in either a full-time or part time study load in an approved undergraduate program at James Cook University;
• Maintain a 4.0 GPA or satisfactory academic progress as determined by the selection committee (if GPA is not applicable);

Conditions of the Scholarship

At the end of each academic year, a written report must be submitted to the scholarships office, the template will be sent to you.

If the recipient defers their study, the recipient will no longer be eligible for the award. The recipient may re-apply for the Scholarship in subsequent years. Where an award is terminated pursuant to the provisions to this clause it may be awarded to another suitable applicant.

A student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Appeals Policy.

The requirements of the Scholarship shall not make the awarding of the Scholarship conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

Administration of the Scholarship

The Scholarship shall be owned by the Scholarships Office.

The scholarship shall be administered by the Scholarships Office, on behalf of the Selection Committee.

The funds of the scholarship shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the officer of the University charged with administering the scholarship.

Income from a fund not expended on an 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.

Please refer to Glossary of Terms.