The George Alexander Scholarship Program
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The George Alexander Scholarship Program, established in 2002, is a major program of The George Alexander Foundation. The scholarships assist talented young people, with leadership potential and a commitment to their community, but who need financial support. For many recipients, the scholarship is the critical support that enables them to continue on to tertiary education.
The first two Scholarships Programs were at Griffith University in Brisbane and at RMIT University in Melbourne. The George Alexander Foundation Access and Equity Scholarships commenced at the Geelong and Warrnambool campuses of Deakin University at the beginning of 2006.
Scholarship programs will commence in 2007 at the Australian Catholic University in Ballarat and at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
Details of the Program
The George Alexander Scholarship Program was established in 2002, to provide scholarships to students with academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to their community, but who are struggling against financial hardship or other disadvantage to maintain their studies and to reach their potential.
The first two Scholarship Programs commenced at Griffith University in Queensland and at RMIT University in Victoria.
A third Program commenced at Deakin University campuses in Geelong and Warrnambool in Victoria, in 2006. A new scheme at the Australian Catholic University in Ballarat will commecne in 2007, and discussions are taking place with other universities and institutes, with a view to establishing new programs to commence in 2007.
The dollar amount of the scholarships and the purposes for which they may be used vary b etween the different universities according to the needs and the circumstances of the students.
In March 2006, it was decided to increase the value of the scholarships at Griffith and RMIT Universities, in recognition of the increase in living and education costs for students since the Program was establised at the beginning of 2002.
Following the increase, RMIT students receive either a one-off grant of $1,500 or a one-off larger scholarship of $7,500 towards education and living expenses (not course fees).
Griffith scholarship holders receive $22,500 over three years to cover their fees at a residential college at the University.
At Deakin University, students receive $10,000 over three years for education and living expenses. As the scheme at Deakin University is in its first year, the scholarships did not increase in value.
When the program commences at the Australian Catholic University in Ballarat in 2007, scholarships of $10,000 over three years will be offered to assist with accommodation and travel expenses for students from rural and regional areas who move from home in order to study at the Ballarat Campus.
Bursaries will be awarded each year for three years, at a value of $1,000 each, to assist with field experience placement costs. Bursaries will be open to students in all year levels.
A George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Scheme will commence at Swinburne University of Technology in 2007 to support the living expenses of talented low income students who are living away from home in order to study at Swinburne University.
The Governors of The George Alexander Foundation welcome applications from other Universities and TAFE instiutes to expand the program across Australia.
Sources:
- The George Alexander Foundation 2005/06 Distribution Report