Scholarships and Opportunities

RDA Tropical North collates information on relevant scholarships and opportunities from government, corporate and private sectors.

Youi Student Grant

which aims to support a student as they near the completion of their studies.

Youi aims to give back to the next generation by helping students in Business and IT-related fields take the next step in their journey.

  • Value:$5,000 (one-time payment)
  • Eligibility:Full-time undergraduate students in Business or IT-related fields (including Design & Animation, Computing Sciences, Games Development). Open to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
  • Deadline:5:00pm AEST, 24 October 2025
  • Apply here: https://www.youi.com.au/about-us/youi-student-grant

National Industry PhD Program

The Australian Government is investing $296 million to build a bedrock of research talent skilled in university–industry collaboration across the sector under the Increase Workforce Mobility initiative. This includes funding to establish the National Industry PhD Program to support the Government’s commitment to add 1,800 Industry PhDs over 10 years.

About the Program

An Industry PhD is a doctoral program designed with an industry application. Under appropriate academic and industry supervision, PhD candidates undertake a co-designed research project with university and industry participation.

The National Industry PhD Program will support PhD candidates to undertake industry-focused research projects and be equipped with the knowledge and skills to better translate university research into commercialisation outcomes. Upon completion, candidates will have the ability to work at the interface of research and industry, and across the sectors in future.

The Program consists of two streams:

  • Industry Linked PhD stream: This stream is for outstanding PhD candidates to undertake research projects co-designed by university and industry, with opportunities to be embedded in an industry setting.
  • Industry Researcher PhD stream: This stream is for highly capable industry professionals who are supported by their employers to undertake PhD projects in partnership with a university while retaining industry employment and salary benefits.

For more information, please visit the adjacent Program website hosted by the delivery partner, Campus Plus. You can also fill in this short Expression of Interest form, which will enable Campus Plus to assist you directly.

Key dates

Applications for Round 6 are now opened. Applications must be submitted by Friday 15 August 2025.

For more information regarding general application timelines, please see Attachment D of the Program Guidelines.

Launch your research-driven venture into market with ON Accelerate

It is a three-month, free commercialisation acceleration program for entrepreneurial researchers who are ready to translate their great idea into a research-driven company.

Tailored to the translation of publicly funded research, this program focuses on business models, market validation, storytelling and capital raising. This includes access to venture capital partners and networks to help secure capital for business development.

All IP remains the property of the team or their sponsoring institute. Participants are required to sign non-disclosure agreements for IP protection.

 

Find out more here. 

The Defence Industry Internship Program (DIIP)

The Defence Industry Internship Program (DIIP) provides Engineering and Technology university students with direct connections to the Defence Industry by facilitating a 12-week (450 hour) paid internship in small to medium defence industry businesses across Australia.

These internships provide students with the opportunity to work with industry leaders on complex projects, using advanced technologies and support the development of valuable employability skills.

Find out more here.

Future Leaders Scholarship

Purpose

The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship supports Australia’s future leaders by providing an enriching postgraduate experience for talented individuals to study at one of Australia’s leading universities and participate in a bespoke, nine-month, Leadership Development Program.

Overview

Up to 17 scholarships, valued at up to $120,000 each over two to three years, will be awarded in 2026 to support postgraduate coursework or research. Scholars must commence study with one of our nine university partners (see section 2.3).

Scholars will join the Westpac Scholars Network (W100) – a community of leaders, innovators and changemakers. Driven by scholars and supported by the Trust, the W100 offers ongoing opportunities for connection, leadership and collaboration across all five scholarship programs.

 

Learn more here.

Copyright Agency Partnerships

Purpose

One visual artist or collective will be selected from a competitive application process to develop and present a major new commission with PICA.

Overview

The total value of this grant is $80,000, inclusive of artist fee and project funds towards the development and presentation of a new commission.

Limitations

Who can apply?

  • Mid-career and established contemporary artists are eligible to apply for this grant
  • If applying as a group, all artists must identify as mid-career or established artists
  • Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents
  • Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Copyright Agency Cultural Fund grants

We encourage you to discuss your application with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Please contact Amrit Gill, Artistic Director/CEO on amrit.gill@4a.com.au or (02) 9212 0380

Find out more here.

 

Indigenous Youth Leadership Program

Purpose

The Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP) is a seven-day residential program held in Brisbane with all travel, meals and accommodation provided for the participants and mentors attending.

Overview

QIYLP is the flagship component of the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Strategy. The program provides an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, 18–25 years of age, to come together to strengthen their leadership skills and build their capacity to drive change in local communities.

Since 2004, 759 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have taken part in the program, with many returning in later years as mentors, lead mentors and program facilitators.

QIYLP provides participants with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills along with self-development skills, ensuring they have the essential tools to develop and lead their own community projects and help drive improved outcomes in their communities.

The program provides:

  • intensive leadership workshops—facilitated by Indigenous community leaders and content experts
  • mentoring and networking opportunities—participants can network with high-profile politicians, respected elders and community leaders from Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and representatives of the Queensland Government
  • career development opportunities—providing participants with links to employment opportunities, alumni development program, and access to ongoing mentoring and training.

Eric Deeral Indigenous Youth Parliament-one-day event delivered by Queensland Parliamentary Services, providing young people with an opportunity to improve their understanding of Queensland government parliamentary processes.

 

Learn more here.

Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships

Purpose

The Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowships aim to support breakthrough solutions to Australia’s most pressing social and environmental challenges and bring new talent to the social sector.

Overview

A Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for recipients to take 12 months, supported by $180,000, to focus on approaches that have the potential to achieve positive outcomes for society, supporting initiatives that align with one or more of the program themes of inclusion & equality, sustainability & environment including climate change, or human, civil & legal rights.

Learn more here.

Women’s Leadership Development Scholarships

Purpose

Partial scholarships of $700 – $5000 are available to help women in select industries participate in our world-class leadership courses.

Overview

To encourage more women to increase their impact at work and step into leadership roles, WLA is offering scholarships for four leadership development courses:

Skills for workplace impact

  • A 10-week program for women at all levels, providing game-changing interpersonal and communication skills to improve your impact and confidence at work.
  • $700 partial scholarship
  • Duration: 10 weeks

Early career managers

  • Delivered part time over four months, Leding Edge is designed to enable the transition of aspiring and early career female managers info confident, capable and motivated leaders. 
  • $1,000 partial scholarship
  • Duration: 4 months

Mid-level managers

  • Delivered part-time over seven months, Executive Ready is designed to stretch mid-level leaders and propel them towards executive level performance, behaviours and mindsets.
  • $3,000 scholarship
  • Duration: 7 months

Senior and executive leaders

  • Delivered part-time over twelve months, the Advanced Leadership Program is a high-impact and challenging developmental course for senior and executive leaders.
  • $5,000 partial scholarship
  • Duration: 9 months

Find out more here.

Chris Silagy Research Scholarship

Purpose

The Chris Silagy Research Scholarship is designed to support a 12-month research project into an aspect of evidence-based primary health care by a general practitioner researcher.

Overview

The scholarship is to the value of $15,000 (excluding GST) which includes a return economy airfare for the recipient to either attend a meeting of the Cochrane Collaboration, or visit a Cochrane Research Centre during the year of the scholarship.

Find out more here.

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postgraduate Scholarships scheme funds successful applicants to attain a research based postgraduate degree – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Research Masters Degree.

It aims to support these outstanding health and medical graduates early in their career so they can be trained to conduct research that is internationally competitive and develop a capacity for original independent research within Australia.

The intended outcome of the Postgraduate Scholarships scheme is increased research capacity within Australia.

Click here to find out more.

ICDA Scholarships

Hundreds of not-for-profit leaders now have the opportunity to secure a part-scholarship to complete the highly regarded ICDA Diploma of Governance.

While scholarships have previously been offered for Australia’s leading diploma-level governance qualification, the current program expands access to a broader range of individuals across multiple sectors, supporting some of the most under-represented groups in the country.

Scholarships of $1,000 enable eligible applicants to apply for any upcoming intake, with decisions made within 10 business days of submission.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open throughout the year. However, places in diploma courses are strictly limited, and scholarships are subject to specific terms and conditions.

The full cost of the Diploma is $4,500, which includes enrolment, assessment, and administration. Scholarship recipients will be responsible for covering the remaining fee of $3,500.

Find out more here>

 

Peninsula Developmental Road Scholarships

Peninsula Developmental Road Scholarships are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students for education expenses, as part of the Peninsula Development Road Indigenous Land Use Agreement within the Cape York Region Package.

6 scholarships are available in 2026, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students who have a traditional or historical connection to country around the Peninsula Developmental Road, Cape York.

These scholarships are offered as part of the delivery of the Peninsula Developmental Road projects.

Click here to find out more.

Gill Owen Scholarship

The Gill Owen Scholarship supports an individual to travel internationally to research innovative ideas and initiatives that will be relevant to improving outcomes for consumers in the Australian energy market.
Energy Consumers Australia sees great potential value in continuing that exchange of ideas and
experience that Gill Owen exemplified.
Applications are invited for a grant of up to $15,000 to research innovation, policies and programs that
will be relevant to achieving improved consumer outcomes in a dynamic and changing Australian
energy market.
Find out more

Kelvin Trimper Scholarship

In honor of Kelvin Trimper AM, a respected horticulturist and consumer advocate, SA Power Networks and Energy Consumers Australia offer a $10,000 scholarship to improve consumer outcomes in Australia’s energy market. The scholarship supports research, pilot programs, training, and innovative projects. Recipients will share insights through webinars, stakeholder meetings, and presentations, continuing Kelvin’s legacy of championing better outcomes for communities.
Ongoing – Find out more