Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli has launched a new $2.4 million scholarship program named in honour of the NSW Apprenticeship Ambassador, Bert Evans AO. The new scholarships will assist apprentices who need additional financial support to complete their apprenticeship.
“Apprentices are vital to the economic growth and development of NSW. We recognise that some students need additional financial support to help them achieve their training qualification,” Mr Piccoli said.
The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships are worth $5,000 per year of study for up to three years and will be offered to 40 first year, 40 second year and 40 third year apprentices. In total, 120 new scholarships will be awarded this year to both metropolitan and country apprentices.
The scholarships will assist apprentices in NSW who have demonstrated:
- hardship in their personal circumstances
- aptitude for vocational education and training to lead to successfully completing their trade training
- a positive attitude and application in the workplace and in off the job training.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible apprentices must:
- be an Australian citizen or hold permanent resident status
- be in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of their apprenticeship at the time of nominating
- be resident in NSW for the term of the apprenticeship
- be in a trade in a skill shortage category in NSW
- be in one of the following equity groups:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander apprentice
- apprentice with a disability
- female apprentice in a non-traditional trade for women.
Applications will be available from the State Training Services website from 10 June 2014 and will remain open until the 25 July 2014.
Information on the scholarships is available from State Training Services Regional Centres on 13 28 11 and on the State Training Services website.