Isabelle D'Souza Scholarship for an Indigenous Medical Student * [F27543]

An asterisk (*) indicates that this scholarship is governed by conditions. This scholarship is governed by the General Conditions for Scholarships for Coursework Students except as set out in the conditions that follow.

Dr Isabelle D’Souza has donated a sum of money for the establishment of a scholarship to assist an Indigenous student from Western Australia who is experiencing financial hardship and has experienced past educational disadvantage to undertake the undergraduate course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB BS) at The University of Western Australia (the University). The scholarship is established and awarded in accordance with the following conditions.

Title
1. The scholarship is called the Isabelle D’Souza Scholarship for an Indigenous Medical Student.

Purpose
2. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage and assist a high-achieving Indigenous student from Western Australia, who is experiencing financial hardship and has experienced past educational disadvantage, to undertake the MB BS course at the University.

Value and Number
3. (1) The annual value of the scholarship is equivalent to that of the Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (Indigenous-CECS), or equivalent, for the applicable year.¹

(2) One scholarship is available, for a student commencing in 2010.

¹ In 2010 the value of the Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (Indigenous-CECS) is $2254.

Eligibility Requirements
4. (1) To be eligible to apply for a scholarship an applicant must—

(a) be an Indigenous person of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; and

(b)(i) have completed their last two years of schooling in Western Australia; or

(ii) have lived in Western Australia for the last three years; and

(c) be eligible to enrol at the University in the undergraduate degree course leading to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery; and

(d) be able to demonstrate financial need.

(2) Financial need may be demonstrated by the applicant—

(a) being in receipt of a means-tested Commonwealth income support payment (such as Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy, disability support pension, Veterans Entitlements payment or another income-tested benefit or pension) in the year in which the scholarship is awarded; or

(b) submitting a statement of financial need.

Body Responsible for Selection
5. The selection committee is the Scholarships Committee which includes a nominee from the School of Indigenous Studies.

Selection Criteria
6. The scholarship is awarded by the selection committee to the eligible applicant who, in its opinion, best demonstrates—

(a) academic achievement; and

(b) past educational disadvantage.

Selection Process
7. Selection of the recipient is made by the selection committee having regard to the applicants' completed application forms and supporting documentation.

Awarding Body
8. The scholarship is awarded by the Scholarships Committee.

Method of Payment
9. (1) The scholarship is paid in two equal instalments each year.

(2) One instalment is normally paid on or following the census date in each of the relevant semesters.

(3) Payment of the second and subsequent instalments is subject to the recipient meeting the criteria for continuation set out in 11.

Duration of Award
10. Subject to 11, the scholarship is tenable for the duration of the course for which it is awarded.

Criteria for Continuation
11. Continuation of the scholarship is subject to the recipient—

(a) making satisfactory progress in accordance with the rules of the course for which the scholarship is awarded; and

(b) being enrolled at the University as a full-time student in the course for which the scholarship is awarded unless the Scholarships Committee approves exceptional circumstances which preclude full-time enrolment.

Suspension of Scholarship
12. Following the first census date, the scholarship may be suspended for up to one year (two semesters) during the tenure of the scholarship subject to approval from the Scholarships Office.¹

¹ Students wishing to suspend their course must apply for a period of approved leave from the faculty.

Concurrent Awards
13. The scholarship may be held concurrently with another external or University award provided that the conditions of the other award so permit.

Application Procedure
14. (1) Applications are called for annually by the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office.

(2) Application forms are available from the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office at the University.

(3) Completed applications must be submitted to the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office by the advertised closing date.

Administering Body
15. The scholarship is administered by the Graduate Research and Scholarships Office.

Publications
16. Any thesis, dissertation or other publication resulting from research undertaken by the recipient while in receipt of the Isabelle D’Souza Scholarship for an Indigenous Medical Student must acknowledge the support of the scholarship and carry the University by-line.

Intellectual Property
17. Intellectual property is governed by the University's Intellectual Property policy available on the University's website at http://www.universitypolicies.uwa.edu.au/page/117132.