SCU, ANZ offer $15,000 Indigenous university scholarship
ANZ and Southern Cross University have joined forces to provide increased opportunities for Indigenous students through a new $15,000 scholarship.
The ANZ Indigenous Undergraduate Scholarship was launched this week by Professor Bill MacGillivray, Southern Cross University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, as part of the NAIDOC Week celebrations at the Lismore campus.
The launch was followed by an address by Professor Judy Atkinson, Head of Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples.
The new scholarship will be available in 2008 to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student enrolling in any three-year full-time degree at the Lismore, Coffs Harbour or Tweed Gold Coast campuses. Applicants may be school leavers or mature-age students.
Professor MacGillivray welcomed the contribution from ANZ.
“Southern Cross University is committed to improving education pathways for Indigenous students. This significant contribution from ANZ will provide much-needed financial support and help open up new educational opportunities,” Professor MacGillivray said.
In July 2006, ANZ released a Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation, and subsequently, in April 2007, the Chief Executive Officer Mr John McFarlane released the ANZ Reconciliation Action Plan.
Mr Leigh Sellers, the Regional Manager for ANZ’s NSW North Coast Regional, Rural and Small Business Banking division, has played a key role in implementing that plan.
“I am extremely grateful to be able to support the ANZ Indigenous Scholarship,” Mr Sellers said. “Helping to improve the social and economic well-being of Indigenous Australians is a key part of ANZ’s overall social responsibility and I believe that the ANZ Indigenous Scholarship is a significant milestone towards this.”
For more on the scholarship, visit www.scu.edu.au/index.php
