First-time tertiary students are set to have the chance to pursue their education goals with applications for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s 2021 scholarship program now open.
The program offers a range of scholarships up to the value of $5000 to support students with study and relocation related expenses, with students pursuing undergraduate degrees or studying certificate, diploma and associate degree courses invited to apply.
Bendigo and Adelaide bank board chair Jacqueline Hey said the program is an important initiative that helps break down barriers to accessing further education and helps students succeed in their chosen career.
“The scholarship program aims to enable students’ to access further study, regardless of background or location, by assisting with travel and accommodation costs and course materials. We want students to be able to focus on their education without having to worry about financial pressures or feel unable to pursue further study,” Hey said.
“Since 2007 we’ve supported close to 1,000 students, providing $9.2 million to help students achieve their study aspirations. Our ongoing investment reflects the bank’s commitment to the next generation.”
In addition, the scholarship will also be the beginning the Bendigo Bank indigenous scholarship program this year, which will offer scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Hey highlighted that the 2017 Closing the Gap report from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are twice as likely to leave university, with those who spidered leaving noted financial difficulty as the main reason.
“Our scholarships aim to help alleviate some of the financial burden. We’re proud to be offering the Bendigo Bank Indigenous Scholarship program for 2021,” Hey said.
In 2020, more than $1 million in funding was granted to students through the bank’s scholarship program which incorporates the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship for rural and regional students, scholarships from participating Community Banks and the Rural Bank scholarships.
2020 recipient, Jackie Milani, was awarded a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences at The University of Wollongong and found that the funding gave her the boost she needed to achieve her tertiary goals.
“This scholarship from Community Bank Sanctuary Point has been beneficial to my family, it gave me the encouragement and support to begin the road to achieving my dream job of becoming an Occupational Therapist,” Milani said.
“Having the privilege of receiving this scholarship allowed me to manage without having to find a part-time job. By not having to deal with the overwhelming concept of working, studying, socialising, exercising and chores, I had the ability to accept a course that I knew would be difficult and time demanding, but would lead me into the field of the occupational health industry.”
Applications for the scholarship program close January 29, 2021.
