New vocational education scholarships to advance STEM careers

Published Sunday, 16 July, 2017 at 12:30 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills
The Honourable Yvette D'Ath

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

The Palaszczuk Government will provide more Queenslanders with the opportunity to study science, technology, engineering and maths at TAFE through a new Advance Queensland scholarship program.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch and Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath announced today the $350,000 Advance Queensland-TAFE Queensland Pathways Scholarships were opening for applications.

“This is an opportunity for Queenslanders to gain higher level vocational education qualifications that will equip them for a career in science and technology,” Ms Enoch said.

“The program is designed to encourage students to complete both a TAFE Queensland qualification and university study in STEM-related careers including nursing, engineering, science and technology.

“A person’s circumstances can sometimes prevent them from being successful in tertiary education and these scholarships will help to level the playing field, especially encouraging people who might not have thought about a career where qualifications in science and technology are needed.

“These new Advance Queensland scholarships will improve opportunities across demographic groups and help students from all walks of life to start their STEM-related career to prepare them for jobs of the future.”

Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath said a total of 70 Advance Queensland-funded scholarships would be offered over two years to help students gain the skills required to maximise their chance of employment or enable them to progress to further study.

“It’s a great opportunity to enhance their studies with financial support of $5000 in the first year and a potential further top-up of $5000 if they continue on to university,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Scholarships can be life-changing, removing barriers to further studies for students demonstrating excellence or those experiencing disadvantage, allowing them to pursue study and build skills they need for long-term employment,” she said.

TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Jodi Schmidt said these scholarships will deepen TAFE Queensland’s existing successful scholarship program which to date has awarded more than 130 scholarships.

“We know the power vocational education has to change people’s lives and help them achieve extraordinary things – something TAFE Queensland, the state’s largest and most trusted vocational education and training provider, has been doing for more than 130 years,” Ms Schmidt said.

“Whether you’re leaving school this year, considering a career change or just need a boost, these scholarships will provide an opportunity for Queenslanders everywhere to develop their skills and gain a qualification to secure jobs in some of our largest and fastest growing industries.”

Applications for the scholarships to support study at TAFE Queensland in semester one 2018 open on 17 July and close on 31 August 2017.

For more information visit advance.qld.gov.au/researchersor scholarships.tafeqld.edu.au.

MEDIA: Neil Doorley 0412 393 909 (Enoch), Kirsten MacGregor 0417 675 917 (D’Ath)