Roberta Sykes Fellowship

Applicants must: 

• Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and be accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived; 
• Hold an Undergraduate degree with strong performance; 
• Be accepted into a Postgraduate coursework or research degree at an overseas university; 
• Be able to demonstrate that they have or will have sufficient funds to support themselves during the course of their Postgraduate study, such as through another scholarship, private sponsorship or personal funds; 
• Be able to demonstrate that their studies will be of benefit to their community upon their return to Australia.

Please ensure you submit an application with all required documents. Your application will not be considered complete or pass the shortlisting process if all required documents are not submitted by the Scholarship closing date.

The required documents include:

• A personal statement of no more than two pages, outlining:
  • Why you want to study your chosen course;
  • How you identify with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community(ies) in which you live, have lived or have ancestral connection to, and the contributions you have made within the community;
  • Ways in which understanding and completing your chosen course will contribute in tangible, applied ways to advance the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
• Written confirmation of full-time enrolment from the relevant university. Alternatively, written confirmation of the application submitted to the relevant university;
• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV);
• A high-resolution corporate headshot in jpeg format;
• A copy of your most up-to-date official academic transcript;
• Academic transcripts: official transcripts of your university results (including mid-year if possible);
• Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity through a signed statement from an incorporated Indigenous organisation or Land Council;
• Completed budget (there is a downloadable template within the application form);
• One written reference from an Elder or senior member of your community to highlight your connection to community and;
• Two written academic references highlighting your capabilities and the benefits of completing the chosen course OR;
• One academic and one professional written reference highlighting your capabilities and the benefits of completing the chosen course.