The Roobiny Rural Placement Bursary

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

• I am an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent visa holder;
• I am or will be enrolled in my fourth or fifth year of Veterinary Science undergraduate;
• I am or will be enrolled full time at Townsville Campus; and
• I am in financial need; and
• I have an overall GPA of 4.0 or more.

If you are a successful applicant of this bursary you will receive $2,000 in a lump sum, or such amount as the Selection Committee determine from time to time, paid in one instalment after the census date of Study Period 1. 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 and submit on the official application form:

• a certified copy of your academic record from any other academic institution;
• written statement explaining:
  • the nature of your clinical and/or elective placement in a rural or regional community in North Australia; and
  • How the financial assistance will be used to help with your placement.
• no more than three written references attesting to your good character and/or suitability to receive the bursary;
• evidence of financial hardship please refer to the Examples of Supporting Documentation list, and;
• any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion as to the merit of your application.

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

This Bursary was established in January 2016 as a tribute to honour the memory of late Dr Roobiny (Biny) Sivananthan who graduated from James Cook University in Veterinary Science in 2011. Since graduation, Roobiny Sivananthan dedicated her Veterinary Service to the North West Region of Queensland, both in Mount Isa and in the regional rural communities of, Boulia, Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Karumba and Normanton. The Bursaries are established to assist JCU final year veterinary students to undertake clinical and/or elective placements in rural communities of North Queensland. One bursary will be dedicated to placement in Mt Isa at the North West Veterinary Clinic where Roobiny practiced and served the North West community and the rural regions beyond. The second bursary will be for a placement in a North Queensland rural or regional community.

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

Value and Payment of the Bursary

The value of the bursary shall be $2,000 or such amount as the Selection Committee determine from time to time paid in 1 instalment after census date of Study Period 1. Please allow up to 6 weeks after census date for payment.

Eligibility Criteria

The Roobiny Rural Placement Bursary shall be open to competition among applicants who meet the following criteria:

• an Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia;
• enrolled fulltime at Townsville campus;
• four or final year Veterinary Science undergraduate; and
• have an overall GPA of 4.0 or more.

Selection Criteria

The Selection Criteria are:

• academic merit or potential;
• the character of the applicant for the award;
• content of the written statement;
• extent of financial hardship; and
• any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the applicant has, or will receive any other scholarship 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 certified copy of their academic record from any other academic institution;
• written statement explaining:
  • the nature of their clinical and/or elective placement in a rural or regional community in North Australia; and
  • how the financial assistance will be used to help with their placement.
• no more than three written references attesting to the applicant’s good character and/or suitability to receive the bursary;
• evidence of financial hardship, and;
• any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion as to the merit of the application.

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

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant’s good character and suitability to receive the bursary, 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 bursary shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:

• Head of Veterinary Sciences (CHAIR), or nominee
• JCU Vet Sciences Student Placements Advisor, or nominee,
• At least one member of the university's academic teaching staff.
• **OR a pool of appropriate JCU representatives

The Selection Committee reserves the right:

• not to award a bursary in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no applicant of sufficient merit to warrant an award;
• to award a bursary for a period of one or more years; and
• to extend a bursary for the existing recipient.

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 bursary awardee.

Conditions of the Bursary

At the end of the 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. Where an award is terminated pursuant to the provisions to this clause it may be awarded to another suitable applicant.

If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of these provisions or any provision relating to a particular award or with any conditions imposed under these provisions or the provisions relating to a particular award, the Council may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder.

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

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

In the event that the recipient suspends their study, the bursary shall be terminated.

Administration of the Bursary

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

The funds of the bursary 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 Bursary.

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.

Please refer to Glossary of Terms