Shape your future
Are you an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) student undertaking full-time tertiary studies in Victoria?
The Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Program aims to support Victorian Aboriginal students in completing their studies.
Recipients of the scholarship receive a fortnightly study allowance to undertake full-time study in a broad range of fields related to the business of the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Scholarship recipient profiles
Bree Lovett
Receiving a scholarship in 2017/18 enabled Bree to attain top grades without having to balance part time work.
Now a successful candidate for the 2019 graduate program, Bree aspires to influence and facilitate positive change for Aboriginal affairs from a government level.
Photo: 2018 scholarship recipient
Bree Lovett
Gunditjmara clan
“I strive towards making a positive change for the future of Aboriginal Victorians.”
Zachary Penrith-Puchalski
Having received the $30,000 scholarship, Zachary intends to impact youth justice and Aboriginal issues through policy making within the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
The scholarship has enabled Zachary to focus on his studies and achieve higher grades by alleviating the stress of financial responsibilities.
Photo: 2019 scholarship recipient
Zachary Penrith-Puchalski
Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung clans
“Inspired by stories from community, I will continue to listen and learn through my future career in justice.”
A pathway to employment
Through the Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Programs, recipients are invited to attend the department’s annual Aboriginal Employee Network conference and participate in a work placement within the department or its related agencies.
These opportunities enable recipients to build valuable networks that can lead to real employment opportunities post-graduation.
One of the ways scholarship recipients may gain employment in the department is through the Aboriginal pathway to Victorian Government graduate program (External link) offered by the Victorian Public Sector Commission.
The graduate scheme offers a 12-month paid position that can provide a direct pathway to ongoing, full-time employment.
The graduate scheme offers access to benefits such as:
- strong Aboriginal employee networks
- the Aboriginal career development program
- mentoring
- learning and development opportunities
- NAIDOC and Ceremonial/cultural leave.
For further information or to apply contact:
The Aboriginal Workforce Unit
Department of Justice and Community Safety
Aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Banner art: Rain Coming Down #7 by Melissa Bell
The artwork you see on the desktop version of this page is by Melissa Bell. Melissa is a proud Gunditjimara and Yorta Yorta woman from Cummeragunja. Melissa often paints her Country to express the deep connection first nations people have with the land. She represents her Country in bright colours and striking patterns such as diamonds to represent fishing spots and dots to represent waterholes. Melissa describes how being able to express her culture through art has empowered her and given her a life to be proud of. Art has always been important to the Bell family and Melissa credits her Uncle and Great-Great-Grandfather for inspiring her to become an artist. Melissa completed a Diploma in Visual Arts at RMIT and has been a practising artist with the Torch since 2016. Melissa’s artwork has been purchased by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the County Koori Court and Respect Victoria.