High achieving Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students - who have been successful in the classroom, community and sports field - have been awarded scholarships to Bond University on the Gold Coast.
In total, six students from across Australia have begun their studies at the independent university, after receiving an Indigenous Scholarship with another 3 commencing later this year.
The scholarships were awarded based on academic achievement, leadership and community involvement, with up to 100 per cent of tuition covered by the University and its supporting partners.
The scholarships have been awarded to students from Port Augusta, Townsville, Grafton, Lightning Ridge, Thursday Island, Cairns and the Gold Coast.
Bond University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students and Academic Support, Alan Finch, said the students had already demonstrated the skills needed to succeed in higher education.
"At Bond, we will help them build on these strong foundations to achieve their career ambition, with the students pursuing diverse industries from health science, to communications, criminology, international relations and law," he said.
"We warmly welcome each of the students to Bond, and believe they all have very bright futures ahead of them."
Each of the students will be assisted in their transition to higher education through the University's Nyombil Indigenous Support Centre, which provides both academic and cultural support, including access to an Indigenous cultural support officer.
"Through the Centre, the students will have a constant network of support and encouragement," said Mr Finch.
"Each year Bond welcomes Indigenous students from communities right across Australia. Having a place where they can come together 24/7, whether it be for study or simply to socialise, makes for a much smoother transition in what can be a daunting time, particularly for those who have moved from remote or regional areas."
“We have a strong retention rate which is significantly higher than the national average, therefore, we are confident that these scholars will follow in the footsteps of previous recipients who have moved on to careers in a variety of fields such as Law, Community, Government, Human Resources and Finance.”
The Bond University Indigenous Scholarships have been announced following the highly successful Indigenous Gala in November (2017), and some of the funds raised have been used to support the education of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders.
Scholarship applications will open soon for 2019. Learn more at www.bond.edu.au/scholarship/bond-university-indigenous-scholarships.