Further Education Bursaries
2011 winner Jessica Smith with Vision Australia's Owen van der Wall.
2011 winner Campbell Ball with Owen van der Wall.
2012 Bursary applications now closed
In 2012, Vision Australia will award Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision. The Bursaries are awarded to people who for financial reasons may not be able to fully participate in further education, providing adaptive technology to assist their studies.
Eligibility Criteria
Students of any age can apply for a Vision Australia Further Education Bursary. Applicants must:
- Be or become, a client of Vision Australia
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Be living or moving to Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory or Tasmania
- Be enrolling to study at an institution in Victoria, ACT, NSW, Queensland, the Northern Territory or Tasmania
- Be enrolling to study in at least Certificate IV at a TAFE or an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at University at the start of the year or be already enrolled in such a course (preference may be given to those beginning or in the early stages of a course).
Selection Criteria
The Bursary Committee will take the following criteria into consideration when making their selection, thus Applicants are advised to address these factors in their application:
- Potential for success in higher education
- Level of achievement demonstrated in previous results
- Academic awards, prizes or acknowledgement
- Ability to successfully complete course
- Career prospects on completion of course
- Extra-curricular activities
- Community service
- Employment
- Volunteer work
- Sporting or other achievements
- Demonstrated need for the equipment
- Justification of the need for any additional equipment beyond your current equipment
- Implications of not having the equipment
- Justification of the types of equipment and its benefits
- Demonstrated financial need
- Show financial hindrance to being independently able to purchase the recommended technology.
Each year a Victorian Bursary recipient selected by our committee to have best met these criteria will also receive the Fairhall Memorial Scholarship of $150.
Applications are treated in the strictest confidence. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
How to Apply
There are three stages in the application process.
- Stage 1. Contact Vision Australia for an Adaptive Technology Bursary Assessment.
This assessment is required as part of your application. No other adaptive technology assessment will be accepted. It is best if this assessment is arranged to occur as soon as possible (preferably in August). To arrange an assessment, phone 1300 84 74 66 and ask for the Tertiary Education Consultant, Max Bini and he will organise it for you. - Stage 2. Submit the Application form and accompanying documentation.
Please ensure that you have completed all sections of the application (listed under '2012 Documentation' below).
Read the checklist (listed under '2012 Documentation' below) to assist you with this process.
Vision Australia reserves the right to refuse incomplete applications for consideration by the Further Education Bursary Committee. Any application not completed in full will not be considered for an award.
The completed Application Form must be submitted electronically prior to Monday 31 October 2011. This can either be by email to bursary@visionaustralia.org or on disk in a MS Word format (.doc) format. Hardcopy versions of this form will not be accepted.
Accompanying documentation has different format requirements. These are explained in the application form. All hardcopy accompanying documentation (especially the signed declaration) and any disks are to be mailed to:
Further Education Bursary Tertiary Education Consultant
Vision Australia
346 Macaulay Road
Kensington Vic 3031
The deadline for applications is 31 October 2011.
The Tertiary Education Consultant is available to assist you with certain aspects of your application. All Applicants sending in a complete application will be issued with an email acknowledging receipt. - Stage 3. Submit a copy of your tertiary enrolment details.
After being short-listed for a Bursary, you must send in a photocopy or email from your education provider detailing your enrolment for the Bursary to actually be awarded. Enrolment usually occurs in late January.
For further assistance with your application
All applicants are entitled to a 30 minute consultation with the Tertiary Education Consultant. To make an appointment please contact Max Bini, Tertiary Education Consultant, Vision Australia by telephoning (direct) 03 8378 1223 or toll free on 1300 84 74 66 or emailing bursary@visionaustralia.org.
Related information
Contact Us
All enquiries about the Vision Australia Further Education Bursary Awards should be directed to:
Max Bini, Tertiary Education Consultant
Vision Australia
Toll free: 1300 84 74 66
Email: bursary@visionaustralia.org