Western Sydney University has partnered with the Castle Group’s Perera Foundation on a new scholarship aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The initiative offers up to $45,000 in financial assistance to undergraduates enrolled at the campus. Funding covers course fees for up to three years, with a specific allocation of $15,000 provided each year to successful applicants.
Eligibility and Course Focus
The grant targets students in specific academic disciplines. Eligible fields include accounting, finance, business, law, commerce, and property. The program is open to both new and continuing students, accommodating those studying full-time or part-time equivalent courses. The funding is designed to help ease the financial burden associated with higher education in these competitive areas.
Applicants must complete the Western Sydney University scholarship form to be considered. Students must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and provide documents confirming that identity. A supporting statement detailing how the financial aid will aid their studies and careers is required. This document must disclose the applicant’s background and circumstances to the selection panel.
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Selection Requirements
The selection process involves a review of written applications, academic potential, and the ability to meet requirements. If deemed appropriate, a selection panel conducts interviews to further assess candidates. Recipients are obligated to continue their studies at the institution and maintain a minimum 4.0 GPA to continue receiving funds.
Enrollment growth indicates a significant milestone for the university. The institution recently became the first Sydney-based university to enroll over 1,000 Indigenous students. This achievement highlights a shifting student body that requires specific resources to succeed in competitive professional fields.
Leadership and Commitment
Ritchie Perera, founder and group CEO of Castle Group, described the purpose of the assistance. He stated that the scholarship is about opening doors and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to turn education into lasting professional opportunities. Perera explained that the scholarship highlights the foundation’s long-term commitment to providing significant opportunities in its communities.
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He added that Western Sydney has been central to Castle Group’s story and that successful businesses have a responsibility to invest in the communities that support them. Ranisha Clarke, property CEO at Castle Group, is a graduate of the university. She said she understood firsthand how education can open doors and shape a person’s future.
Clarke noted that the partnership is about backing talented Indigenous students and helping them build careers in fields that will play an important role in the future of businesses, industries, and communities. Jason Mason, director of the university’s Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education, spoke about the students currently in the system. Mason said Indigenous students bring enormous talent, ambition, and potential to the university and the wider Western Sydney community.
Mason added that by helping to meet the cost of their studies, the Perera Foundation Indigenous Scholarship will support recipients to pursue their goals and succeed in higher education. The Perera Foundation was launched in 2014.
