The Public Education Foundation’s Rural and Remote Indigenous Primary Scholarship supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in Australian public primary schools in a rural or remote area.
The intent of the scholarship is to allow students to engage, learn, strive, reach their full potential and excel through their primary school education.
The scholarship will provide financial support to help the student with resources and services relevant to improving their educational outcomes. An amount of $1,000 per year will be paid to one successful applicant for each year of their primary schooling, for Years 2-6 (total amount $5,000), or Years 3-6 (total amount $4,000).
The scholarship is to cover educational expenses such as:
- Uniforms and school shoes (including school sports clothing)
- Literacy and/or numeracy support
- Stationery and text books
- Laptop, iPad or other similar device
- Subject or study related software
- Printer
- Internet connection for study at home
- School excursions and school camps
- Furniture for study such as desk, chair, lamp etc
- Face to face or online tutoring
If a student leaves public school before the end of Year 12, the scholarship will lapse. Please note – if a student’s attendance rate falls below an acceptable level at any time during the duration of the scholarship, the scholarship may be withdrawn. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund.
Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the scholarship terms and conditions available on our website.
BASIC ELIGIBILITY
- Enrolled in Year 1 or Year 2 in 2024 in a public primary school in Australia in a rural or remote area
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Evidence of successful transition into the primary school environment and the capacity to succeed at school
- Positive attitude towards school and high attendance rates
- Disadvantage currently preventing the student from realising their potential at school or participating in all aspects of schooling
- Demonstrate they participate in school life
- Indigenous community links
SELECTION PROCESS
A selection panel will review all scholarship applications and assess them against the selection criteria. The selection panel will include representatives of the Public Education Foundation and independent experts. After considering all applications, the selection panel will recommend the selected applicant for the approval of the Public Education Foundation’s Board. Successful applicants will be notified in December 2024.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email. If successful, the scholarship recipient’s school principal will also receive notification directly.
HOW TO APPLY
All applications for the Rural & Remote Indigenous Primary Scholarship must be submitted via the Foundation’s online portal. You will need to sign up for a PEF-Apply account to access the form. Note – ALL sections of the application, INCLUDING the Principals Supporting Statement must be completed before the application can be submitted.
Prior to starting your application, you should compile the following information ready to submit:
- Applicant details including:
- full name
- gender
- date of birth
- phone number
- address
- email (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
- Residence status
- Parent/guardian details (at least one but up to two)
- name
- phone number
- relationship to student
- email address (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
- School details:
- name of school
- address
- principal name
- School Point of Contact – the person at the school who you would like correspondence sent to – name, phone number and email
- Basic information about you / your family:
- whether you are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or Pacific or South Sea Islander
- your mob/family/traditional owner/language group
- if you are from a Non-English-Speaking Background
- country of original of your parents and yourself
- which languages you speak and are spoken at home
- how many adults live on your home
- how many of those adults are working
- who is the primary caregiver at home
- how many other school aged (or younger) children live in your house
- highest education qualification of your immediate family
- if you have a diagnosed disability or learning difficulty
- whether you have been in out-of-home care
- socio-economic background
- how you found out about the scholarship
- A statement from the applicant’s parent/carer outlining why the applicant is a suitable candidate for this scholarship and how they meet each of the selection criteria. (Completed online – 25 – 400 words)
- A brief statement from the applicant’s parent/carer on how the scholarship funds would be used (Completed online -20 – 150 words)
- A digital copy of all pages of your most recent school report ready to upload
- A personal reference from an Aboriginal community member which addresses the selection criteria (PDF or Word format, maximum 400 words) Please advise your referee that our Panels are not in a position to contact them for additional information. The reference should provide all information they feel is relevant.
- A supporting statement from your Principal which addresses the selection criteria (the applicant must initiate a request via the online application to the Principal. This will result in an email being sent to the Principal asking them to complete a statement of support online). This statement must be completed by your Principal before the application can be submitted
Note for Community Member references: It is critical that the Aboriginal community member reference is specific and supportive of the student. Generic references WILL disadvantage an applicant.
Note for Principals: Please be aware that your statement is a critical component of the application form and your feedback is given considerable weight in the process of panel deliberations. The panels are looking for feedback that goes well beyond simple confirmation that the student is enrolled in your school, or that you endorse the application. Generic responses, or copy/paste responses from the applicants or referees statements WILL disadvantage the applicant
DRAFT PAPER APPLICATION FORM
Our online applications are a mandatory part of the PEF process; however, we are aware that this can cause additional challenges for schools assisting with scholarship applications. We have developed a paper application form which will hopefully assist with this process. Please note that the application must still be completed online but the Parent/Carer statement and Community member reference may be uploaded as a handwritten documents if required:
- Parent/Carer Statement
- Reference from an Aboriginal Community member
- Signed Terms and Conditions
Please make sure they are legible.
If you require a copy of the draft paper version of this application, please contact PEF on info@publiceducationfoundation.org.au
SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
Once you have finalised your application and all elements are complete (including references as required) you can submit it for review.
Applications must be submitted by 11.59pm on Tuesday 17th September 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at info@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
