Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Scholarship

Australian South Sea Islander students studying an undergraduate degree.

In 2001 the Queensland Government established the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation (the Foundation) to provide university scholarships for Australian South Sea Islander undergraduate students.

The purpose of the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation scholarship program is to improve educational opportunities for Australian South Sea Islanders by making available scholarships for undergraduate university students at a participating Queensland-based universities. The Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation, sub-fund of the Queensland Community Foundation, was established by Queensland Government as a permanent legacy for the Australian South Sea Islander community.

Scholarships are funded from income generated by the invested donations to the Foundation and individual scholarships are offered on a yearly basis, with no guarantee of an ongoing commitment.

The foundation is independently managed by The Public Trustee under the umbrella of the Queensland Community Foundation.

The scholarship amount will be up to $5,000 and will be determined based on the annual disbursement of funds by the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation and may vary from year to year. Payment will be made approximately three weeks after Census Date, once enrolment has been confirmed.

If insufficient funds are available, the scholarship will not be awarded.

Eligibility

• identify as an Australian South Sea Islander who is a direct descendant of the South Sea Islanders who were brought into Queensland between 1863 and 1904 and worked as indentured labourers (Note: Applicants should seek a letter of support from a registered Australian South Sea Islander organisation verifying their Australian South Sea Islander heritage)
• recipient should not have previously completed an undergraduate degree at any university

Selection criteria

• academic merit
• financial need
• preference will be given to applicants who do not qualify for Abstudy