Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Scholarship

The scholarship provides the following for the standard duration of program, up to a maximum of eight years:

• tuition fees paid (value will vary depending on program)
• Student Services and Amenities fees (SSAF) paid, up to $315 per annum (2022 rate) 
• Financial assistance of up to $10,000 per annum for full-time enrolment or $5,000 per annum for part-time enrolment, paid fortnightly.

Additional supports of up to $5000 per annum may also be available, including:

• access to Aboriginal student peer networks, mentoring and alumni programs, and support from Aboriginal Elders 
• tutoring and assistance with academic studies where required – this could include flexible learning options, such as online and after-hours support
• opportunities for scholars to attend relevant conferences, regional and local networks and communities of practice
• professional development and career mapping through the sector
• accommodation and placements, where required.

Note This scholarship is taxable if a recipient is undertaking their study at a part-time enrolment rate. We recommend that you obtain taxation advice from an accountant or the Australian Tax Office regarding scholarships.

To be eligible for this scholarship you must:

• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• have applied for admission or be continuing study in one of the following programs at RMIT with enrolments in semester 2, 2022:
  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology)
  • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
  • Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies
  • Graduate Certificate in Domestic and Family Violence
  • Online Graduate Diploma in Psychology
  • Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
  • Master of Mental Health Nursing
  • Master of Clinical Psychology
  • Master of Social Work
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• be currently employed by an ACCO or a mainstream health organisation in a Victorian Aboriginal SEWB (social and emotional well-being) team or role
• OR
• if not currently employed, intend to work in a Victorian Aboriginal SEWB team or role in the future.

Complete the online application form by the application close date.

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 confirm your Indigenous eligibility with RMIT’s Ngarara Willim Centre prior to the application close date.

• a letter from your employer (if you are already employed by an ACCO or mainstream health organisation) outlining how they will support you through the course (e.g. flexible work arrangements and/or study leave, mentoring etc.). They may also like to outline what opportunities they see for you in their organisation; or
• a letter of support from a community member (if you are not employed by an ACCO or mainstream health organisation) outlining your commitment to Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing and your ability to balance both your work and study commitments.

Please visit Supporting Your Application 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 in advance prior to starting the online application.

• Describe your interest in and commitment to Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing (300 words)
• Discuss your future career aspirations (i.e. your intent to maintain or gain employment within an Aboriginal SEWB team following completion of your studies) (300 words)

You can find the Centre for Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing's (the Centre) (hosted by VACCHO) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the scholarship here.

Find out more about applying for scholarships.

Applications for semester 2 2022 now open.

Applications for 2022 will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 3 July 2022. No late applications will be accepted.

Understand that the following information will be provided to the the Victorian Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation (VACCHO) and the Department of Health (Mental Health and Wellbeing Division):

• Submitted scholarship application and attached documentation
• personal contact details 
• For successful recipients:
  • ongoing scholarship and program progression information
  • information for the provision of additional support
  • survey results (de-identified)
  • that your name, program and scholarship maybe publicly announced or otherwise published by the Department of Health and VACCHO
  • any other evidence as reasonably required by the Department of Health and VACCHO from time to time

Recipients of this scholarship understand that:

• a scholarship may be terminated by RMIT University, in consultation with the Department, if you have not maintained satisfactory academic performance each semester.
• your scholarship can be placed on hold for a maximum period of two semesters after the initial semester of study to coincide with taking a leave of absence from your studies.
• it is expected that you will participate in an external evaluation of the scholarship, whereby your contact details will be provided to an external organisation for the sole purpose of undertaking the evaluation to ensure the scholarship is meeting its outcomes and for implementing continuous quality improvement.
• you will need to discuss with the Coursework Scholarships Office prior to any change to your program as most program changes will be ineligible. 
• you will not be eligible to receive any other scholarship while in receipt of this scholarship.
• you must acknowledge the Department of Health and VACCHO in all consequential media and documentation.

View the Coursework Scholarships Office’s terms and conditions.

Coursework Scholarships Office.