NEVILLE BONNER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

For Honours in Political Science

In memory of the late Mr Neville Bonner AO, the first Indigenous Member of Federal Parliament

‘Neville Bonner’s life is a study not only of courage, conscience and compassion in the face of extraordinary adversity, but also of personal and national reconciliation’.

Background

Established in the year 2000 by the Federal Government, The Neville Bonner Memorial Scholarship is Australia’s most prestigious scholarship for Indigenous Australians to study Honours in Political Science or related subjects at any Australian university. One Neville Bonner Scholarship is awarded each year. The Scholarship is also sponsored by Pfizer Australia.

Field of Study

Political Science may be broadly interpreted to include such subjects as government, political geography, political history, political anthropology and political economics. In addition, the Selection Committee may also consider application from other subject areas consistent with the broad aim of the Scholarship.

Value

The Scholarship is equivalent in value to the Australian Postgraduate Award (in the year of award) paid over the period of the Scholarship, which is two consecutive academic semesters of full-time study or pro rata over two years for approved part-time study. The Scholarship also includes up front payments of the HECS amounts relevant to the Honours year of study.

Whilst the receipt of the Scholarship will not preclude the Scholarship holder from receiving some ABSTUDY benefits, all Scholarship funds received by the Scholarship holder will be considered under the personal (student) income test for ABSTUDY purposes. The HECS portion of the Scholarship (paid upfront by the Scholarship Administrator) will not affect ABSTUDY eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for the 2008 Neville Bonner Scholarship, candidates must:

be Indigenous Australians of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are accepted as such by the Indigenous Australian community in which they live or have lived;
be Australian citizens;and
be currently enrolled or have been enrolled in a course of study leading to the award of a Degree of Bachelor with majors relevant to the enrolment in an Honours year in politics or political science or related subjects at a recognised Australian university.

Candidates must also have been offered a place in Honours in 2008 or have good reason to believe they will be offered a place.

Application Process

Candidates must complete the Application Form and submit it with the requested documents (as specified in the Application Form) including original academic transcript/s and a letter of acceptance into the Honours program.

A letter from an Indigenous community leader or member (or other documentation) that confirms your status as an Indigenous Australian is also required to support your application. Alternatively, it would also be acceptable for one of your referees to confirm your identity as an Indigenous Australian in their report or reference.

You also need to write a personal statement of up to two A4 pages in support of your application. This may include a description of your chosen honours topic, your service to the Indigenous community and your future aspirations.

Candidates may also submit a brief resume (up to two A4 pages).

Please read the Additional Information attached to the Application Form, which includes the Scholarship Terms and Conditions and some information on Neville Bonner. The transcript of a Speech on Neville Bonner by the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, then Minister for Education, Science and Training, is also available for reference.

Please contact the Scholarship Administrator if you wish to check whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the Scholarship, or if you have any questions.

Application Due Date

Applications and requested documentation (as stated in the Application Form) must be received by the Scholarship Administrator by 30 November 2007. Please do not sumbit additional information that has not been requested, as it will not be considered by the Selection Committee.

Referees

You need two academic referees who can comment on your suitability to undertake study at Honours level. Provide your academic referees with a copy of the Referee Report Form and write their contact details on your Application Form.

You also need one personal referee, someone who is not related to you but who has known you for at least three years, who can write a letter on your personal qualities, extra-curricular activities, other interests and community involvement. Please refer to the Application Form for more details.

Honours admission

Acceptance into the Honours program at the relevant university is a prerequisite for the confirmation of the award of the Scholarship.

An applicant who is not currently a student of the University at which he or she wishes to undertake the Honours program must apply separately and concurrently for admission to that university.

Selection Process

The Selection Committee will consider the academic achievement of the student, the suitability of the applicant for an Honours year of study as assessed by the referees, the student’s aspirations including expressed interest in service to the Indigenous community, and other criteria as included from time to time by the Advisory Committee and promulgated in the Application Form. The Advisory Committee is currently Chaired by Dr Brendan Nelson.

The award of the Scholarship is conditional on the successful applicant gaining entry into the Honours program.

For Further Information Contact

Ms Karen Holt
Scholarship Administrator and Selection Committee Secretary
Council and Boards Secretariat
1.09 Chancelry Bld 10
The Australian National University
CANBERRA ACT 0200

Email: cabs.admin@anu.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6125 2825
Fax: +61 2 6125 8524