Scholarships and Opportunities

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

Peninsula Developmental Road Scholarship

The Queensland Government is offering Peninsula Developmental Road Scholarships as part of the Indigenous Land Use Agreement within the Cape York Region Package.

These scholarships aim to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with education expenses.

High school scholarships

Eligibility

Students completing Year 10 in 2027.

Scholarship value

$2,250 distributed as follows:

  • $750 for Year 10 expenses
  • $750 for Year 11 expenses
  • $750 for Year 12 expenses

Tertiary scholarships

Eligibility

Students enrolled full-time in an eligible qualification in 2027.

Scholarship value

$10,000 per year for up to 4 years, to education-related expenses.

Eligible qualifications

  • Advanced Diploma
  • Associate Degree
  • Bachelor Degree
  • Bachelor (Honours) Degree
  • Graduate Certificate
  • Graduate Diploma

Eligible fields of study

Any field related to the Queensland Government’s core business, such as:

  • construction management
  • engineering
  • cultural heritage
  • town planning
  • environmental management
  • communications
  • accounting or finance.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a tertiary or high school scholarship, applicants must:

  • be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • have a traditional or historical connection to country around the Peninsula Developmental Road, Cape York Peninsula.

Eligible locations include: areas north of Lakeland including (but not necessarily limited to) Weipa, Cooktown, Bloomfield River, Rossville, Lockhart, Coen, Northern Peninsula Area (including Injinoo, Umagico, Bamaga, New Mapoon and Seisia), Pormpuraaw, Mapoon, Hope Vale, Aurukun, Laura and Kowanyama.

Applications Close: 14 August 2026

Learn more here.

Variety Heart Scholarship (QLD)

The Variety Heart Scholarship provides financial support to talented Queensland children who are living with disability, chronic illness, financial hardship or geographic isolation. The scholarship helps young people pursue their passion in the arts, education or sport by assisting with costs such as coaching, tuition, equipment, travel, competition fees and other expenses that enable them to further develop their skills. Designed to help children reach their full potential, the scholarship encourages participation, achievement and personal growth. 

Applications Close: 31 August 2026

Learn more here.

QLD Health Workforce Scholarship Program

Purpose

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in remote and rural Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice.

Overview

Scholarships and bursaries are available for medical, nursing, midwifery, dental, allied health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, who are providing primary health care in remote and rural Queensland. They must work in private practice, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS), or non-profit organisations.

Eligible Locations:

  • MM 3-7 locations for remote and rural primary health care providers.
  • MM 1-7 locations for health professionals employed by AMSs and ACCHSs.

Bursary: Payments of up to $10,000 within a 12-month period that covers the cost of course fees and training related expenses such as travel and accommodation where appropriate. Including online or face-to-face: short courses, workshops, and conferences.

Scholarship: Payments up to $10,000 per year can be provided for up to two years, to attain a post graduate qualification of either a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, Master or PhD.

Note: Retrospective costs (completed courses) are not eligible for funding. If you’re currently undertaking eligible upskilling (part-way through the course), funding may be assessed for future expenses.

 

Upcoming round:

Applications Open: 13 July 2026
Applications Close: 26 July 2026

Next round:

Applications Open: 12 October 2026
Applications Close: 25 October 2026

Learn more here.

CEW scholarships

 

Purpose

CEW scholarships are available to unlock opportunities to excel in your field and progress your career.

Overview

Each CEW scholarship offers women the chance to study and accelerate their careers at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Kennedy School, INSEAD, Oxford Sad Business School, Melbourne Business School, as well as offering places on CEW’s 100 NPS evidence-based Leaders Program and Executive Leaders Program, and more.

In partnership with industry leaders, providing access to life changing programs, education, and global networks.

Applications for 2026 CEW Scholarships are now open or opening soon:

  • Healthcare (Nursing)
  • AI & Data Science 
  • Superannuation 
  • Arts 
  • Media & Advertising
  • Sustainability – Next open in July 2026
  • STEM – Next open in July 2026
  • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Women Leaders (any industry) – Next open in July 2026
  • Not-for-profit and For-purpose sectors – Next open in July 2026
  • Opportunities for women leaders in any industry – Next open in July 2026

Eligibility

Check your Eligibility:  Log in to the CEW Scholarships Platform, and select the scholarship(s) you are interested in. For each scholarship, you must confirm that you meet all the eligibility criteria to proceed with your application.

Current Scholarship:

Chemistry Australia Woman Leader in STEM Scholarship

CEW has partnered with Chemistry Australia to offer one woman working in the chemistry industry the opportunity to undertake the Women Transforming Leadership Programme at Oxford Saïd Business School.

Applications are open to women employed by Chemistry Australia member companies and their supply chain partners, and to candidates from the chemistry industry nationally.

The Australian chemistry industry comprises a diverse range of businesses that manufacture and/or supply chemicals, plastics raw materials and products, and services. This includes adhesives and sealants, agricultural chemicals, environmental and water treatment chemicals, explosives and mining chemicals, fertilizers, food and beverage ingredients, gas processing chemicals, industrial and medical gases, natural rubber products, paints and coatings, personal care and hygiene products, pharmaceutical ingredients, polymers and synthetic resins, pulp and paper processing chemicals, silicones, and more

Program dates: 8-12 March 2027

Applications close: 31 August 2026

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.

 

Expressions of Interest Open: 13 July 2026

 

Expressions of Interest Close: 16 August 2026

Invitations for Full Applications sent: 19 October 2026

Successful Applicants Confirmation: March 2027

 

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.

Next round: March 2027

 

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>

 

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