CQUniCares BMA Indigenous Vocational Education and Training (VET) Scholarship

To be eligible to receive the CQUniCares BMA Indigenous Vocational Education and Training (VET) Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled at CQUniversity in any VET Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma;
• Be enrolled at CQUniversity in any 2025 Vocational Education and Training (VET) intake at the time of Census date;
• Be residing in Queensland, in communities classified as Inner Regional, Outer Regional, Remote or Very Remote by the Australian Government. To confirm if your address is likely to fit this criteria, please refer to this Australian Government resource.
• Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity or Cultural Reference documents as detailed under the Supporting Documentation section.
• Not currently in receipt of a CQUniversity Scholarship or a Scholarship where payments are administered by CQUniversity.

Preference will be given to applicants who are residing in the following postal codes: 4737 - 4746, 4750, 4751, 4753, 4754, 4756 and 4757.

Applicants will be assessed on the application and a 500-word personal statement addressing the following:

How would a CQUniCares BMA Indigenous Vocational Education and Training (VET) Scholarship assist with your studies?

• Tell us about yourself:
  • Name/course/interests.
  • You may wish to also share your current situation, challenges you have experienced or overcome, as well as any examples of success, leadership, community, or volunteering.
• How will a scholarship help you to overcome financial barriers to success?
  • You may wish to further explain your current situation and how a scholarship will assist you in managing general living and study expenses.
• What are your career goals and how will a scholarship assist you in achieving your educational objectives?
  • You may wish to outline your aspirations following graduation, as well as your plans for giving back and supporting our regions.

Expectations of recipients

As a scholarship recipient, you may be asked to participate in a feedback survey. You may also be approached to assist with promoting CQUniversity’s Scholarships program by sharing your experiences as a recipient through testimonials, media or invitations to attend events such as Orientation or Open Days. If you do not wish to be publicly recognised or be involved in the above initiatives, please advise the Philanthropy team via ourpartners@cqu.edu.au immediately following acceptance.

CQUniversity has a range of support services located on our website Student Support Services and Financial Preparedness.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicant must:

• Pass all previous units;
• Remain enrolled in at least one additional unit at the time of Census date and minimum three months after the first payment and following ongoing eligibility checks.

Please note that failure to meet the continuing eligibility criteria may result in the scholarship being withdrawn. 

Additional information

A scholarship may be deferred for a maximum period of two higher-education terms (excludes Term 3) or two VET intakes.

Sharing details with the Donor of your Scholarship

Personal information is collected, stored, used, and disclosed by CQUniversity to process your scholarship. As funds for your scholarship have been generously donated, the University is required to share your name, course/study area and ongoing eligibility (including academic performance) with the donor of your scholarship. The University may also share your student email address and your nominated phone number, if requested by your scholarship donor, for the purpose of enabling their representatives to contact you regarding your scholarship. Donors may wish to celebrate their recipients, however if you do not wish for your donor or the University to promote your name publicly, this can be arranged by contacting the Philanthropy team via ourpartners@cqu.edu.au.

Information collected can be disclosed without consent when required by law. Any other provision of personal information will be authorised in accordance with the University’s Privacy Policy and Procedure, and in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Visit www.cqu.edu.au/privacy for more information.

Thanking your Donor

Many of our scholarships are made possible by generous donations from community partners who are committed to supporting CQUniversity students to reach their academic goals. Our donors are always keen to hear how their support is making a difference. You are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of thanks (Word/PDF) or short video to ourpartners@cqu.edu.au to express your appreciation. To help you get started, we recommend providing a brief overview of who you are, what you are studying and your career aspirations, as well as some insight into how your scholarship will benefit you.

Payment of Scholarship

The successful applicant is required to enter their current financial institution details (banking details) into MyCQU (refer to instructions) for payment to occur. This must be done prior to the enrolled VET intake Census date to avoid delays.

The first payment of $1,250 will be made to the successful recipient following post Census date eligibility checks of their first enrolment intake. The second payment of $1,250 will be made following ongoing eligibility checks and minimum of three months after receiving their first payment.

Payment will be made to the successful recipient the month after the relevant VET intake Census date (refer to TAFE Academic Calendar). For example, if enrolled in the April intake, payment will be made in May.

Payments will be credited electronically to the successful applicant’s nominated bank account. Requests for an early payment will not be considered.

*Disclaimer - Students may be required to provide further documentation to support their application. This can include the following:

• Documentation demonstrating academic achievements or unofficial transcript.
• Documentation demonstrating community involvement, exemplary work or demonstration of leadership.
• Resume.
• Students will need to supply any or all of the following supporting documents as per the CQUniversity Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Protocol (Section 3.5 Acceptable documentation):
  • Certified copies of the student's Confirmation of Identity documents. A Confirmation of Identity document is usually provided by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community organisation. The documentation names the individual and confirms they are a recognised member of a specified Indigenous Australian community.
  • Certified Native Title documentation issued by a Prescribed Body Corporate which specifically names the student or provides other formal evidence of ancestral or familial ties.
  • In the absence of either of these documents, an original Statutory Declaration signed by the student, accompanied by two supporting documents of verification from a recognised cultural consultant/referee (as defined in the CQUniversity Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Protocol, Section 5.1 Terms and definitions).

All requests for further information to support applications will be sent to the student email account. Failure to supply further information will deem the application incomplete and will not be considered.

To apply for a Donor-Funded Scholarship:

Complete a Donor-Funded Scholarship Online Application Form, ensuring all supporting documentation is completed and attached as outlined here:

• For Current students (applicants who already have a Student ID number) apply through MyCQU.
• For Future students (applicants who have applied or are intending to apply to study at CQUniversity but have not yet received or accepted an offer) apply now.

Applicants are required to provide a 500-word personal statement addressing the following question:

How would a CQUniCares BMA Indigenous Vocational Education and Training (VET) Scholarship assist with your studies?

Complete applications must be received by 10am AEST on the closing date.

A selection panel, consisting of representatives from CQUniversity will be formed to determine the successful applicant. The selection process may involve an interview (either face-to-face or online).

Scholarships at CQUniversity are highly competitive. All applications are ranked based on how well applicants address the selection criteria, and in comparison, to other applicants. Being eligible or being a recipient in the past is no guarantee of having a successful application. A scholarship will only be offered where there is an applicant of sufficient merit.

The Student Scholarships team are unable to provide updates to students on the progress of their individual application until all assessments are completed.

BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)

BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) is a 50:50 joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi Development which was formed in 2001. BMA is a world class producer of higher-quality steelmaking coal, which is an essential ingredient in the production of steel and is one of the largest producers and suppliers in the world. BMA is committed to regional economic development and sustainability, which includes support for education pathways to employment in communities of interest. To learn about BHP in Queensland, visit the BHP website for more information.