Gloria Brennan Scholarships [F7865]

The then State Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (now replaced by the Department of Indigenous Affairs) in conjunction with the then Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs (now replaced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) having provided grant funds to The University of Western Australia for the administration and management of the Gloria Brennan Scholarships, named after the late Gloria Brennan, one of the first Aboriginal graduates of The University of Western Australia, are established and are administered in accordance with the following regulations.

1. Each scholarship is called a Gloria Brennan Scholarship.

2. The object of the scholarships is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enrol on a full-time basis in an undergraduate course of study leading to a first degree, associate diploma or similar level of award at one of the public universities in Western Australia.

3.(1) The scholarship is open to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who—

(a) has enrolled on a full-time basis in one of the courses described in 2;

(b) is resident anywhere in Australia at the time of application; and

(c) does not already hold a degree, associate diploma or equivalent qualification.

(2) Students who have been awarded the scholarship in previous years continue to be eligible for consideration in each subsequent year of their undergraduate study.

(3) Students who are enrolled in a tertiary orientation or bridging course are not eligible to apply for the scholarship.

(4) Students who will be employed on a full-time basis at any time during the academic year in question are not eligible to apply for the scholarship.

4. Applications for new scholarships will be invited by the School of Indigenous Studies which will advertise the scholarships to the Aboriginal centres or equivalent of the public universities in Western Australia.

5. Applicants are required to submit with their application:

(a) a copy of their Tertiary Entrance Examination results or current tertiary academic record;

(b) evidence of current full-time enrolment in one of the courses described in 2;

(c) two references; and

(d) documentation demonstrating financial need.

6.(1) The scholarships are awarded by a trust committee called the Gloria Brennan Scholarship Trust Committee which comprises:

(a) the Manager, State Policy Centre, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission or nominee;

(b) the Assistant Director, Heritage, Department of Indigenous Affairs or nominee;

(c) the Chair of the Academic Board or nominee; and

(d) the director/head of the Aboriginal centre or equivalent at each of the public universities in Western Australia or nominee.

(2) The Trust Committee will be chaired in alternate years by the representative of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and the representative of the Department of Indigenous Affairs.

7. The Trust Committee determines each year the number of scholarships, if any, to be made available and the value of those scholarships up to a maximum allocation to an individual student of $1000 in 2001 dollar terms increased by an amount to be determined each year by the selection committee having regard to cost of living increases.

8.(1) The scholarships are awarded by the Trust Committee primarily on the basis of academic merit and financial need, though other factors, such as proposed course of study and its long term benefit to the wider Aboriginal community, may be considered.

(2) Preference may be given to applicants who have completed at least one year of tertiary study and to applicants who have not previously been awarded other scholarships including cadetships, government scholarships and HECS exemption awards.

(3) The successful applicants are chosen by an absolute majority of the full Trust Committee.

(4) If, in the opinion of the Trust Committee, there is no suitable applicant in any year, the scholarship(s) will not be awarded that year.

9. Each scholarship is paid in two instalments per year, continuation from semester to semester being subject to the recipient making satisfactory progress in the previous semester and remaining enrolled in the course.

10. The use of the scholarship by the successful applicant is unconditional.

11. Unexpended income in any year will be carried forward and become part of the income available for award in the following year.