2023 Semester 1 - Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship (Current students)

Status: Open

Applications open: 17/01/2023
Applications close: 8/03/2023

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

The Commonwealth Scholarships Program is funded by the Australian Federal Government. It aims to assist Indigenous Australian students experiencing financial hardship, and particularly those from remote and regional areas.
There are two different types of Commonwealth Scholarships:

Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS)

• This scholarship is available to students experiencing financial hardship to assist with the costs of studying

Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS)

• This scholarship is available to students who have relocated from a rural or remote area to study and are experiencing financial hardship. It assists with the costs of relocating and housing

Preference will be given to students who are from a rural and/or regional area of Australia.

Student type

• Current Students

Faculty

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

Course type

• Pathways to undergraduate
• Undergraduate

Specifically for

• Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Students

Citizenship

• Australian Citizen

Scholarship base

• Need Based

Value

The Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships will provide the following support for the normal expected remaining duration of your course.

Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you will be considered for the following Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships:
Priority will be given to students from regional or remote area of Australia.

 

Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS)

• Full-time: $1,500 per semester
• Part-time: $750 per semester

The scholarship will assist with education related costs.

Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS)

• Full-time: $3,000 per semester
• Part-time: $1,500 per semester

The scholarship will assist with relocation and accommodation costs.

Scholarship Details
Eligible courses

• Enabling courses
• Associate Degree courses
• Bachelor Degree courses

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply or the Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICECS):

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
• Enrolled full-time or part-time (at least 50 credits per semester) in one of the eligible courses at Curtin University in semester 1, 2023
• Demonstrated financial hardship by:
  • Being in receipt of a means-tested Centrelink income support payment on fortnightly basis (e.g. ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance, Austudy, Parenting Payment, Disability Support Pension, etc.) or
  • On the basis of income assessment conducted by the Scholarships Office
• Demonstrated low socio-economic status
• Minimum course weighted average (CWA) of 50 (if applicable)
• Not already have completed a course of study that is equivalent to a bachelor degree at any university, unless such degree is a prerequisite to a current course of study
• Not already in receipt of an Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship
• Not in receipt of a Student Start-up Scholarship/Loan through Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• Not in receipt of any Commonwealth Scholarship(s) that was awarded prior to 2023

Additional criteria that needs to be met for the Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS)

• Relocated from a regional or remote area of Australia to study
• Enrolled as an internal student (e.g., attending units on campus) unless exceptional circumstances prevent this
• Not already in receipt of an Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship
• Not in receipt of a Relocation Scholarship through Centrelink
• Not in receipt of ABSTUDY Residential Costs Option through Centrelink
• Not in receipt of any accommodation scholarship

Please note:

• Priority will be given to students from a regional or remote area of Australia (E.g., A student's permanent address is regional or remote). Proof of residency in regional or remote area of Australia is required (either current or previous address immediately prior to commencement of university study).
• If you are already in receipt of a Centrelink Scholarship/Loan you must contact Centrelink and cancel your Centrelink Loan/Scholarship first.
• This scholarship is not deferrable.

Application process

Step 1: Access application form

• Application form can be accessed via the ‘My Studies’ tab in OASIS or via the ‘Apply Online’ button on the top right-hand side of this page
• Please note that this link will direct you to the general "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship Program" application form. Once you submit your application, you will then be considered for all scholarships that you are eligible for in this round.

Step 2: Complete

• Complete the application form online
• Application form can be saved at any point of the process
• Tips on how to complete your application can be found on the ‘Applying for scholarships’ link on the scholarships website

Step 3: Submit

• Closing date is listed at the top of the page and within the Scholarships Channel on OASIS
• Incomplete applications will not be assessed
• Once submitted, application status will change to submitted

Step 4: Receipt

• Application receipt will be sent to student email once application has been submitted

Step 5: Assessment

• Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel using the following criteria:
  • Responses to questions in application form
  • Socioeconomic background
  • Demonstrated financial hardship

Step 6: Outcome

• All successful and unsuccessful applicants notified of their outcome via the Scholarships Channel (Student OASIS) within 6-8 weeks of the scholarship closing date

Step 7: Acceptance

• Successful applicants must accept the terms and conditions via the Scholarship Channel (Student OASIS) by the deadline

Please note:

• Scholarship will be awarded if there are applicants of sufficient need

Enrolment Requirements

Recipients must meet all of the following:

• Remain enrolled in an eligible course of study
• Maintain a full-time enrolment (at least 75 credits each semester) or part-time (at least 50 credits each semester) at Curtin University
• Maintain a course weighted average (CWA) of at least 50 each semester
• Fail no more than one unit attempted each semester
  

Enquiries

Scholarships Office

E: scholarships@curtin.edu.au

T: 1300 222 888

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions

 

Need assistance with your scholarship application, transition to university, study and wellbeing? Contact:

Indigenous Support Team
E: Indigenous.Support@curtin.edu.au P: 08 9266 7091

Student Wellbeing
E: studentwellbeing@curtin.edu.au P: 1800 244 043

Further Information

Application Advice

For further information about applying for scholarships including important dates and tips for preparing your application, utilise the resources available on the Applying for Scholarships webpage.

Commonwealth Scholarships Guidelines
The Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships guidelines are available within:

• Indigenous Student Assistance Grants Guidelines effective 1 January 2017

Centrelink scholarships/loans
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY Living Allowance recipients may be eligible for the following Centrelink-administered /loans. If you are already in receipt of a Centrelink Scholarship/Loan you must contact Centrelink and cancel your Centrelink Loan/Scholarship first to be considered for the Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarships

• Student Start-up Loans
• Relocation Scholarships

Centrelink

For advice on your Centrelink payments and how your scholarship could affect your payment please see http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/income   or contact a Centrelink Office.  If you require a letter about your scholarship for Centrelink, please contact the Scholarships Office. 

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