Indigenous Resource Grant

For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to assist with various costs that may impede the continuation of study.

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Applications now closed

If you are enrolled in an RMIT program and can demonstrate how the continuation of your study is being stopped by a one-off circumstance, then apply for assistance to help.

The grant provides up to $5,000 as a once off payment. Items include:

  • Car parking fees of up to $242 for Bundoora Campus 
  • Unpaid placement costs of up to $5000 e.g. uniform/equipment requirement for placement, parking/travel, employment compensation. Length of unpaid placement is a factor in determining value.
  • Internet – short term assistance of up to $140
  • Childcare fee assistance of up to $2,000
  • Flight training costs of up to $3,000 for costs outside of standard program charges
  • Mandatory textbooks for courses of up to $800
  • Specific software which is mandatory for a course of up to $500 (not available via myDesktop)
  • Professional development for one event only of up to $1000 for vocational, degree or postgraduate by coursework programs

Note: if you are in need of immediate assistance for an unexpected situation/costs, then please use the Student Hardship Assistance Grant. Assistance may be provided for items such as food, travel, a replacement laptop, relocating, unexpected medical costs. 

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

 

  • be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student
  • be an Australian citizen
  • be enrolled in course/s in an RMIT program in 2022
  • discuss your situation with an advisor in the Ngarara Willim Centre
  • demonstrate how receiving this assistance will aid you in the continuation of your studies
  • for professional development assistance, this is only for students enrolled in certificate IV, diploma, degree or postgraduate by coursework programs and who are making satisfactory academic performance.

 

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

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.

You will need to provide evidence of costs associated with your ask.  Note, if successful, you may not receive all the costs, especially if you have googled the highest possible price for your item/s. Please remember that funds are limited and we want to help as many students as possible, so please be reasonable in the demonstration of your costs.

You will need to provide documentation that you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander to our Ngarara Willim Centre prior to submitting your application for the Ngarara Willim Grant (if you have not submitted your documentation already).

Please visit Supporting documentation for more information.

Application questions

It is expected that the online application will take approximately thirty minutes to complete. The main application questions are listed below to allow you time to prepare your answers prior to starting the online application.

For students wanting to undertake professional development activities:

  • Describe the activity you wish to attend or participate in, including the anticipated date/s and where it is located.
  • How is this activity related to your studies? How will it benefit you?
  • Please provide a detailed breakdown of the costs of the activity.
  • Please describe any additional funding you are receiving/will be applying for.

For students wanting to receive funding for other items:

  • How will this assistance aid you in the continuation of your studies?
  • Are you receiving scholarships? Are they through RMIT or external? How much per semester do you receive? 

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications are now closed.

Applications are now closed.

Successful recipients of the grant for professional development assistance will be required to submit a brief report of the event attended or participated in and outline the benefits to the student for the activities undertaken. This report will be required to be submitted within 1 month of the event attended.

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

Find out how to contact the Coursework Scholarships Office.

Notice to applicants

The scholarship application process is highly competitive with a limited number of scholarships available. Unfortunately, not all eligible applicants will receive one.

Only successful candidates will be notified via email to their RMIT student account.

For information about other financial assistance available to RMIT students, please speak to one of our Student Welfare Advisors.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.