Educational Scholarships

Education is expensive, especially at the Tertiary level.

Many parents, and students themselves, are interested in finding ways of funding their education.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AND POLICIES
One of the best ways for parents to plan for education costs right from the beginning, is to take out a education scholarship fund policy.


ASG (Australian Scholarships Group) is an independent not- for-profit Friendly Society which offers both secondary and tertiary scholarship saving plans. Parents pay into their funds, usually on a monthly basis, and then can benefit from the investing powers of the organisation in growing their fund, with annual payouts, when their child reaches certain educational levels.


Insurance companies also offer similar policies for educational scholarships.


Education Savings Plan- You can also start your own education saving plan, through your financial institution, however you need to be committed and not use the money on a whim for something else!

AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many education scholarships available to students wishing to continue with their education. Some are awarded more broadly, based more on those who have real financial difficulties (and also meet educational requirements) and others are aimed more at particular talent and high achievement within that field (probably also must meet lower income requirements).

All of the Scholarships listed below may not be available at all times.


The Australian Commonwealth Government offers 2 kinds of scholarships available to help provide funds for students in lower socio-economic groups to continue with higher education.

Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships
Aimed at students from low socio-economic status backgrounds and Indigenous students. Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (CECS) provide accepted students with a scholarship of $2,120 in 2007 (indexed annually) per year for up to four years to assist with their education costs. Higher education providers are required to ensure that a fair proportion of these scholarships are awarded to Indigenous students.


Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships
Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships provide accepted students from low socio-economic backgrounds, and Indigenous students, from regional and remote areas with a scholarship of $4,240 in 2007 (indexed annually) per year for up to four years to assist them with accommodation costs when they move to undertake higher education.

If you are an Indigenous student, check out the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education to Employment Scholarship Scheme.

State Government scholarships are also available. Check with your Government for what options there are, and their requirements.


Individual Universities offer scholarships to students wishing to continue their education at their particular campus. Contact your preferred University to see what scholarships they currently offer.

There are various International Education Scholarships available to students, both to those students from Australia wishing to study overseas, and those for those from overseas wishing to study here.

One of these is the Australian-American Fulbright Commission (AAFC), whose principal objective is to further mutual understanding between the peoples of Australia and the USA through educational exchanges.

Check out the University of Sydney website, for possible scholarships if you are an International Student wishing to study in Australia.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/international/postgrad/costs/scholarships.shtml

Service Organisations such as Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Apex Club and Freemasons offer a wide variety of scholarships, for all kinds of study, including secondary, tertiary, courses, and international study.


Telstra Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Scholarship Program www.telstra.com.au/careers
Telstra offers a number of Scholarships each year to students from one of their specified target groups- Aboriginal and Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Background, Women in Engineering and IT, Person with a Disability- and who are in their second-last final year of study. Telstra is particularly interested in recognising people who have put in extra effort and commitment to overcome obstacles faced as a result of being a member of one of the above groups.

Low Income Students:
The Smith Family
GPO Box 10500,
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 02 9085 7222
Website: http://www.smithfamily.com.au

Disabled Students:
If you have a disability (learning disabled, blind) Quantum Technology offers various Scholarships for students wishing to proceed into Tertiary studies.
For further enquiries:
Quantum Technology:
PO Box 390, Rydalmere
NSW 2116 Australia.
Head Office (02) 8844 9888
Melbourne Office: (03) 9545 4100
Queensland Office: (07) 3395 5776
www.quantumtechnology.com.au

For students with a severe disability, from Australia, NZ and Canada:
The University of Auckland
Scholarships and Financial Support Office
(Po Box 92.019)
Auckland, New Zealand
Email: m.whitehead@auckland.ac.nz
Website: http://www.auckland.ac.nz

Blind Students:
RVIB College
557 St Kilda Road
Melbourne 3004
Tel (03) 9522 5222 or 1800 458 555
Email: bursary@rvib.org.au
Website: http://www.rvib.org.au

Deaf Students:
Deafness Forum provide educational scholarships to facilitate the participation of people who are deaf or people who have a hearing impairment in post secondary education.

Deafness Forum Limited
218 Northbourne Avenue
Braddon ACT 2612Telephone (02) 6262 7808
TTY (02) 6262 7809
Facsimile: (02) 6262 7810
Email: info@deafnessforum.org.au
http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/

Deaf Society of NSW
Suite 401, 169 Macquarie St
Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone toll free:
1800 893 855 Voice
1800 893 885 TTY
Email: deafsoc@ihug.com.au
Website: http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au

Arthritis- For students whose studies have been interrupted by Arthritis:
The Arthritis Foundation of NSW
Phone: (02) 9683 1622 or 1-800 011 041 toll free
Email: info@arthritisnsw.org.au
Website: http://www.arthritisnsw.org.au/aboutus.htm#watson

Wheelchair Students:
SpineCare Foundation
PO Box 4055
Parramatta 2124
Phone: (02) 9890 0100
Email: spinecare@optusnet.com.au
Website: http://www.spinecarefoundation.org

Spinal Injury Students:
ParaQuad NSW
6 Holker Stree
Newington NSW 2128
Mail: Po Box 6347, Silverwater NSW 1811
Phone: 02 8741 5622
E-mail: scholarships@paraquad.nsw.asn.au
Website: http://www.paraquad-nsw.asn.au

Northcott Society- For students with a disability, who are past or present clients of the Northcott Society (formerly
NSW Society for Crippled Children):
The Northcott Society
PO Box 4055
Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone: 02 9890 0100
Email: enquiry@northcott.com.au
www.northcott .com.au

For students with a mental illness
(short courses, conferences):
NSW Association for Mental Health Inc.
62 Victoria Rd.
Gladesville, NSW 2111
Phone: 9816 1611
Email: info@mentalhealth.asn.


This list is by no means exhaustive, so please keep searching online for the right Educational Scholarship for you.


Good luck with your future studies!