Gerard Driesen Scholarship for VE Indigenous Students

This scholarship provides:

• Full-time enrolled: up to $10,000 per year (up to $5,000 per semester) for up to two years
• Part-time enrolled: up to $5,000 per year (up to $2,500 per semester) for up to four years

The duration of the scholarship may include a sequence where you articulate/pathway in the same discipline, e.g. from certificate IV to a diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or bachelor's degree. 

One scholarship available.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• be able to meet RMIT's Indigenous Eligibility^* requirements by providing documentation that confirms you are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage by the application close date
• be an Australian citizen
• be enrolling in Semester 1 2027 in a certificate IV, diploma^{^} or advanced diploma
• be enrolled in a program with a duration of at least one semester
• be able to demonstrate circumstance(s) that impact your ability your ability to study, or be from an RMIT priority group, including:
  • living with a disability, long-term medical condition, or identify as neurodivergent
  • have experienced or currently experiencing significant personal or life difficulties
  • have relocated/will be relocating from interstate or a rural or regional area to Melbourne to study at RMIT (check eligibility using the Regional Adjustment Calculator)
  • are experiencing financial hardship, for example if you:
    • receive a Centrelink/Department of Veterans' Affairs low-income support payment, or
    • hold a low-income Centrelink Health Care Card
  • are an early school leaver, mature-age student, or you entered university via a TAFE pathway
  • are from a low socioeconomic (low SES) background
  • have recently completed secondary schooling at a SNAP (School Network Access Program) school

Preference will be given to applicants enrolling in creative studies such as design, visual arts, custom-made footwear, photography, screenwriting. 

^*Please see the RMIT Indigenous Eligibility page for what supporting documentation is required. For further information contact the Ngarara Willim Centre at iap@rmit.edu.au or on (03) 9925 4885.

^{^}Undergraduate diplomas are ineligible.

Direct to RMIT applications

The online application form will be made available here when applications open. 

VTAC applications

Apply online through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) website (www.vtac.edu.au).

Supporting documentation

Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide different types of evidence and material to support your scholarship application. Applications without supporting documents will not be considered.

• To meet RMIT's Indigenous Eligibility requirements by providing documentation that confirms you are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage by the application close date.

Please visit Supporting Your Application for more information.

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications for Semester 1 2027 open 1 August 2026.

Timely applications: If you submit your Access and Equity Scholarship Application by 31 August 2026, we’ll let you know if we need any additional documentation.

Applications for Semester 1 2027 close 2:00pm Tuesday 20 October 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

View the Coursework Scholarships Office’s terms and conditions (PDF, 698KB).

Successful recipients are paid this scholarship as a stipend (fortnightly payments) and not as a lump sum. It is impractical to expect to use this scholarship to pay tuition fees.

Past recipient quote:

“Receiving this scholarship made me feel proud, motivated and mostly grateful. I felt a relief that I no longer have to struggle financially and can focus more on studying and not worry about costs for uniform etc. the scholarship also supports me through my studies.” Diploma of Nursing student

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.