Application is now open for the Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships at Flinders University. Interested candidates are encouraged to send their applications in before the deadline date.
About Flinders University and Scholarship
In 1965, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) emerged victorious in the state election, leading to the premiership of Frank Walsh. With a vision to diversify tertiary education in the state and diminish the University of Adelaide’s dominance, the ALP announced plans to establish the Bedford Park campus as an independent institution.
The fruition of this vision occurred on 17 March 1966 when the state parliament passed a bill officially creating the Flinders University of South Australia. While the ALP favored the name “University of South Australia,” academic staff opted for a name associated with a “distinguished but uncontroversial” figure. The chosen namesake was British navigator Matthew Flinders, renowned for his exploration and surveying of the South Australian coastline in 1802.
The university’s original coat of arms, crafted by a professor in the Fine Arts faculty, featured a depiction of Flinders’ ship, Investigator, and an open page from his journal, A Voyage to Terra Australis, describing the coastal region adjacent to the campus site. Flinders University was inaugurated on 25 March 1966, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, officiating the opening ceremony. The inaugural Vice-Chancellor was Peter Karmel, and Sir Mark Mitchell served as the first Chancellor. Teaching commenced on 7 March 1966, with an initial enrollment of 400 students.
An early and groundbreaking initiative was the decision to construct the Flinders Medical Centre on land adjoining the campus, housing the university’s Medical School within this innovative public hospital – the first such integration in Australia. The acceptance of undergraduate medical students commenced in 1974, coinciding with the opening of the Flinders Medical Centre the following year.
The Playford Trust, in alignment with the university’s commitment to academic excellence and regional support, endeavors to assist outstanding students from rural and regional South Australia. Specifically, the trust focuses on supporting undergraduates intending to pursue science, engineering, mathematics, or technology subjects at one of the state’s three public universities.
The Playford Trust offers six awards, each valued at $5,000, to students entering the first year of their university courses. These scholarships aim to assist promising students in overcoming practical and financial challenges associated with living away from their homes and communities. The funds are intended to help cover additional expenses related to living and studying in Adelaide, recognizing and mitigating the challenges faced by students when removed from their usual levels of family support. This initiative reflects the commitment to equity and accessibility in higher education, particularly for those from regional and rural backgrounds.
Details about Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships at Flinders University:
Scholarship Sponsor: Flinders University
Scholarship Value: $5000
Number of awards: 6
Study level: Undergraduate
Host Institution(s): Flinders University, Australia
Eligibility Criteria for Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships
Candidates are advised to meet the following requirements to be eligible for Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships at Flinders University:
- Enroll in one of the three public universities in South Australia as an undergraduate to study science, engineering, math, or technology
- Have a permanent residency visa or be an Australian citizen.
- Possess their familial basis in the State’s rural and regional areas.
- Demonstrate the ability to succeed at a high level and have an excellent secondary school record. Practical and other drawbacks resulting from the distance from Adelaide may be taken into account.
- Possess moral integrity. Students who show promise as leaders will be given priority.
Selection Criteria
Applicants should obtain feedback from a teacher or school referee (such as the Principal, Assistant Principal, or Coordinator) on their accomplishments, character, and leadership potential in addition to meeting all selection requirements.
The student is required to reveal any other honors or scholarships that they may have.
Application Procedure for Playford Trust Rural & Regional STEM Scholarships
Applications should be submitted via the online portal.
The Application Deadline is: 19 January 2024
Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other Australia scholarships here.