Outback Scholarship supports students studying remote

Students living in remote areas of the Northern Territory are eligible for scholarships to study, thanks to a new partnership between Charles Darwin University and Connellan Airways Trust. 

The three-year partnership will mean remote students studying with CDU can receive additional funding through the Connellan Airways Trust (The Trust) Outback Scholarship program.

The Outback Scholarships are an opportunity for students living and studying in remote Northern Territory to help reach their Vocational Education Training (VET) or Degree education goals.

The Trust offers a range of grant opportunities, major awards and scholarships to people living in the outback, to help reduce the challenges of living in rural and remote places.

Proud Yolngu woman, Janelle Guyirkuyir, who lives on Milingimbi Island is one of this year’s Outback Scholarship recipients and has been awarded a scholarship to help undertake a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).

Ms Guyikuyir is in her first year of university after finishing her Preparation for Tertiary Studies last year and is currently working full-time as an assistant teacher at Milingimbi School. After graduating she hopes to become a teacher in Arnhem Land.

“I knew I wanted to have the experience to be able to teach alongside my mum who has been working at the Milingimbi School for almost 50 years, but I was worried about my family responsibilities, travel, accommodation and food,” Ms Guyikuyir said.

“Indigenous Students Services told me that there were opportunities to help me with extra resources and that is when I found out about the Outback Scholarship.”

Ms Guyikuyir said she is looking forward to getting the chance to travel to Darwin next month to meet her educators and some of her class mates face-to-face.

Associate Vice-Chancellor Central Australia Jay Walker said that the scholarships will help students achieve their goals no matter their financial responsibility or postcode.

“Living in the Territory often comes with barriers to education and work; this partnership can ensure that more students living and studying in remote locations have access to additional resources and support that are often required while living remote,” Mr Walker said.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with The Trust to ensure our remote students have access to a range of opportunities.”

Chair of the Connellan Airways Trust Mark Coffey said the Trust is pleased to be partnering with Charles Darwin University to deliver this vital program.

“In line with the Trust’s work, this Scholarship supports a variety of educational opportunities for remote people in the Northern Territory region. Every outback person who upskills, adds to a thriving outback along the way,” Mr Coffey said.

The 2022 Outback Scholarship will be open for applications on the CDU Scholarships website in January 2022. Round two of Scholarship Applications for 2021 are open until 11^th of August. www.cdu.edu.au/scholarships

Visit the Connellan Airways Trust website to learn more about how the Trust empowers people living in Outback Australia. www.connellanairwaystrust.org.au