Aust. Indigenous Education Foundation -BHP Billiton Iron Ore Tertiary Scholarships

AIEF in partnership with BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO) is looking for the most outstanding, talented and motivated Indigenous students who are interested in successfully completing a degree in Engineering or other eligible mining-related disciplines and then working for BHPBIO and becoming leaders in the business.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for an AIEF-BHPBIO Tertiary Scholarship.

To be eligible you must:

• be an Australian resident;

• be of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and be able to provide supporting evidence of your Indigenous identity;

• be enrolled full time to study an eligible degree at an Australian university or have selected an eligible degree as a first preference;

• be accepted into a residential college;

• demonstrate strong academic achievement and potential;

• not be in receipt of any other scholarship, cadetship or similar support unless agreed by AIEF;

• be willing to go through police clearance and other checks as required by BHPBIO;

• be enthusiastic about a career in the mining industry; and

• be willing to accept a role on the BHPBIO vacation and graduate programs in Perth or the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged by a selection panel in accordance with the following criteria:

• academic ability, achievement and potential; and

• response to questions in the Scholarship Application Form.

Particular weight will be given to answers given to questions demonstrating:

• your interest in and commitment to working in the mining industry; and

• your interest in and commitment to working with BHPBIO in Western Australia on completion of your degree.

Additional Information

Whilst on the Scholarship you must:

• continue to comply with all eligibility criteria;

• have strong academic performance, maintaining at least a credit average;

• remain enrolled full time in the degree program for which you were awarded the Scholarship;

• not change course, university or college for which the Scholarship was approved without the consent of AIEF;

• not change electives in a way which may affect the overall major or balance of the degree for which you were awarded the Scholarship without the consent of AIEF;

• not defer the degree for which you were awarded the Scholarship without the consent of AIEF;

• conduct yourself properly, lawfully and in accordance with college and university regulations at all times and not act in a way which may lead to disciplinary proceedings being brought against you;

• inform AIEF and obtain our consent before undergoing any form of paid employment (including vacation work) whilst in receipt of the Scholarship, to ensure that it does not impact negatively upon your studies and is compatible with your obligations to BHP Billiton;

• stay living in the approved college for which you were awarded the Scholarship, and which agrees to enter into a Scholarship Funding Agreement with AIEF;

• take part in AIEF pathways activities, and BHPBIO vacation work in Perth or the Pilbara unless otherwise agreed with AIEF;

• not be in receipt of any other Scholarship, cadetship or similar support without the consent of AIEF, and

• apply for ABSTUDY and, if eligible, select the option that maximises the value of ABSTUDY as advised by AIEF from time to time (this will usually be the residential cost option, but personal circumstances will be taken into account where this is not reasonably practicable). If not eligible for ABSTUDY, give reasons to AIEF on request.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances (to be decided by AIEF in its absolute discretion) you must meet these conditions at all times whilst in receipt of an AIEF-BHPBIO Scholarship. Failure to do so may result in the forfeiture of the Scholarship.

If you withdraw from your course of study prior to the census date, you will become ineligible for continuation of the Scholarship. If you withdraw from studies after the census date or are terminated from studies you will be required to repay the stipend and living allowance for that study period.

If you applied for, and were awarded, a Scholarship on the basis that you had applied for an eligible degree, but were not successful in that application or did not get the required results, AIEF will decide whether any other degree you select meets the criteria for an eligible criteria, and whether you are still eligible to receive a Scholarship, including consideration of academic performance.

The award of this Scholarship may preclude you from holding other similar scholarships. AIEF-BHPBIO may amend the details and value of the Scholarship if you hold other scholarships or cadetships, or are in receipt of support from other similar sources. Dependent on circumstances, receipt of another scholarship, cadetship or other similar support may render you ineligible for this Scholarship. This will be at the absolute discretion of AIEF.

Supporting Documentation

• completed application form and signed declaration – if you cannot complete any of the sections in full please explain why;

• names and contact details of two referees (one academic, one personal);

• written evidence that you are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. This should include either

-- confirmation by a recognised representative of your local Indigenous community of your Indigenous status (usually through your local land council, but other evidence will be considered); or

-- ABSTUDY statement from Centrelink; and

• academic transcripts of your school results and any university results for years already undertaken.

Photocopies are acceptable for the application process. However successful applicants will be required to provide original or certified copies of the original documents before the Scholarship can be awarded.

How do I apply?

Please apply using the Application Form and Information Brochure at http://www.aief.com.au/scholarships/aief-bhpbio-tertiary-scholarships.aspx and note that applications close Friday, 30 November 2012.

You may be requested to attend an interview.

For more information please call (02) 8373 8000 or visit our website at aief.com.au

How will I know the outcome of my application?

To be advised by Australian Indigenous Education Foundation

Scholarship Donor - Australian Indigenous Education Foundation-BHP Billiton Iron Ore

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) in partnership with BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO).

BHPBIO is one of the world’s premier suppliers of iron ore, employing 13,000 people across the Pilbara region of Western Australia alone. BHPBIO is a great place to work, offering a dynamic and exciting career in one of the world’s most reputable companies. With a focus on developing skills and expertise, broadening experience and empowering people to perform at their best, BHP Billiton values both its people and the local communities with which they work. Since 2009, the BHP Billiton two-year Foundations for Graduates Program has been recognised as the best graduate development program in Australia and has set the benchmark in the resources industry.