Further Education Bursaries
2012 Further Education Bursary winners announced
Vision Australia would like to thank those who generously support the Further Education Bursaries.
Our Further Education Bursaries
It is with great pleasure that Vision Australia presents the 2012 Further Education Bursaries. Together with our supporters, we are proud to help students who are blind or have low vision to achieve their life goals.
The Further Education Bursary aims to assist clients who would not otherwise be able to buy adaptive technology, thus increasing their ability to participate in further education.
Since 1996, more than 220 bursaries have been awarded by Vision Australia to students studying a broad range of disciplines - from Natural Medicine to Music and Business. In 2012, 21 Vision Australia clients from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are receiving bursaries.
What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and secure employment.
Assistive technology is software and hardware that enables people who are blind or have low vision to access reading material in a format of their choice, whether this is audio, large print, braille or electronic information.
This technology is essential for accessing computer software in areas such as word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. It also enables access to the internet and email applications, as well as note-taking in class. These assistive technologies include computers with speech output, electronic braille displays and devices for electronically scanning printed material.
2012 Vision Australia Further Education Bursary recipients
Congratulations to all recipients on their outstanding achievements and to the generous supporters who are helping them to achieve their goals.
Brisbane:
- Michaeli Evans of Forest Hill is studying a Bachelor of Applied Science - Wildlife Science at the University of Queensland. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided Michaeli with a Smartview CCTV, a Pebble portable electronic magnifier, a Pear camera with Openbook OCR software, a large screen monitor and Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech.
- Judith Williams of Caloundra is studying a Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Bursary has supplied Judith with an Acrobat CCTV, a Ruby portable electronic magnifier, a large screen monitor and Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech.
- Fallon Evans of Albany Creek is studying a Graduate Diploma of Primary Education at Griffith University. The Bursary has provided Fallon with a Smartview CCTV and a Ruby portable electronic magnifier.
- Jake Fehlberg of Burleigh Waters is studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Griffith University. The Bursary has supplied Jake with a Farview CCTV, a laptop with Zoomtext screen magnification software and speech output and a scanner with Abby finereader OCR software.
- Warrick Gage of Craignish is studying a combined Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Justice (Criminology) at Queensland University of Technology. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided Warrick with a Zoom-Ex Portable scanner/reader with real-time magnification, JAWS screen reading software, a Plextalk Pocket talking book player and a laser printer.
- Toni Pearce of Ipswich is studying a Graduate Diploma of Counselling for Health and Social Care at the University of New England. The Bursary has provided Toni with a Smartview CCTV, a Pearl camera with Openbook OCR software and Magic screen magnification software with speech.
- Metin Bag of Toowoomba is studying a Graduate Diploma in Psychology at the University of Southern Queensland. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided Metin with a laptop running JAWS screen reading software and a Focus 40 Blue refreshable Braille display.
New South Wales:
- Parimaher Sirayanyong from Edgecliff is studying a Bachelor of Business at the University of Technology Sydney. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary supplied Parimaher with a laptop running Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech, a large screen monitor and a multifunction scanner and printer. According to Parimaher, "I am still not certain of what I want to do after university but I would love to work in a place where I can help others. So many wonderful people and organisations have helped me and I would love to do the same."
- Benney Au from Hurlstone Park is studying a combined Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Economics at the University of New South Wales. The Bursary provided Benney with a laptop running Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech, Kurzweil OCR software and a scanner. Benney is a very determined and hard-working student and we wish him every success in his course and future career.
- Karen Pritchard from Wattle Grove is studying a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Marketing) at the University of Western Sydney. The Bursary provided Karen with a laptop running Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech, Kurzweil OCR software with a scanner and a Senseview portable electronic magnifier. Karen has been juggling caring for her family with working and volunteering and it is great to see her taking on study as well.
- Bruce Blackshaw from Croydon Park is studying a Doctor of Education, researching employment prospects and the use of adaptive technology for people who are vision impaired at the University of Technology Sydney. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary supplied Bruce with a scanner running Kurzweil OCR software, a Senseview portable electronic magnifier and Windows 7 and Microsoft office to use with his own computer.
Victoria:
- Madeline Seiter of Numurkah is studying a Bachelor Speech Pathology at Charles Sturt University (Albury /Wodonga). The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided Madeline with an Acrobat CCTV, Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech upgrade and a printer.
- Lorraine McAloney of Wodonga is studying a Bachelor of Behavioural Studies at Open University Australia. The Bursary has provided Lorraine with an Acrobat CCTV, Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech and a Pearl camera with Openbook OCR software.
- Elizabeth Green of Bairnsdale is studying both a Certificate IV in Small Business Management and a Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing at Advance TAFE. The Bursary has provided Elizabeth with a BrailleSense, which is a portable Braille computer.
- James Tate of Blackburn is studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided James with a laptop running Magic screen magnification with speech software, a Pebble hand held electronic magnifier and a Pearl Camera with Openbook OCR software.
- Mathew Mirabella of Melbourne is studying a Juris Doctor post graduate law degree at RMIT. Mathew is still deciding exactly what equipment will best suit his needs but is looking at a laptop running screen reading and magnification software, an electronic hand-held magnifier, an iphone and a digital voice recorder.
- Caren Burns of Coburg is studying a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) at RMIT. The Bursary has provided Caren with a Plextalk talking book player and voice recorder and a Focus 40 blue refreshable Braille display.
- Carrie Jennings of Ballarat is studying a Diploma of Business Administration at the University of Ballarat SMB TAFE campus and has deferred studying a Bachelor of Commerce until next year. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary provided Carrie with a Pearl Camera with Openbook OCR software and a Ruby hand held electronic magnifier.
- Macaulay Jones of Gunbower is studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. The Bursary provided Macaulay with JAWS screen reading software, Zoomtext screen magnification software, a Victor Reader Stream which is a versatile DAISY player which can record lectures as well as download and play electronic books and MP3 files, 27 inch monitor, and a multifunction scanner printer. Macaulay was also awarded the Fairhall Memorial Scholarship.
- Johanna Heaven of Balwyn North is studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary provided Johanna with a laptop running Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech, a 24 inch monitor and an ipad 2.
- Colin Thomas of Moe is studying a Doctor of Philosophy at RMIT researching frontier violence in Australia. The Vision Australia Further Education Bursary has provided Colin with a Merlin CCTV and a Pebble hand held electronic magnifier, Zoomtext screen magnification software with speech and a Pearl camera with Openbook OCR software.
Thank you to our sponsors
We would like to sincerely thank our supporters for making a difference by sponsoring the Vision Australia Further Education Bursaries. Their generous contributions help to lift the barriers that could otherwise prevent people who are blind or have low vision from following their chosen career paths.
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