The Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who aspire towards higher education or vocational course options through study at UOW College.
Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship
Creating opportunities through education.
The Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who aspire to achieve a higher education or vocational qualification through study at UOW College. Aunty Linda was a committed activist who successfully lobbied in the early 1980s for funding to establish an Aboriginal Education Centre (AEC) on the UOW Wollongong Campus. The approved building was purposefully built at the westernmost point on campus, right under the feet of Djeera (Mt Keira) which welcomed the first of our Aboriginal students in the 80s and continues to do so today.
Aunty Linda Cruse paved the way for students to access educational pathways through UOW. UOW College is proud to continue the realisation of Aunty Linda’s vision by providing fully funded scholarships for pathway courses to a bachelor degree at UOW or to study a career- ready qualification in Fitness, Nursing, Ageing Support or Individual Support.
Every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person* can apply to be awarded a full fee-paying scholarship covering all tuition fees which would normally be borne by the student^. All UOW College courses are eligible for the scholarship. For a full list of UOW College courses, please visit our courses and pathways page.
To be eligible you must:
- Be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person* and
- Be enrolled or have an offer of admission to a UOW College course or meet the course entry requirements for a UOW College course, and
- Tell us in 500 words or less: How will you use your UOW College course to support your future studies and career goals?
Applicants will be required to provide a Confirmation of Aboriginality (signed by authorised organisation) OR a Statutory Declaration attesting to Aboriginality (signed by a Justice of the Peace).
All applications need to be submitted before Friday week 1 of the relevant UOW College Session.
I applied to UOW to do a degree in computer science, but my maths grades weren’t good enough. A friend told me about UOW College and let me know that if I did a Diploma of Information Technology through the College, I could go into the second year of a Bachelor of Computer Science. I also received a scholarship for my Diploma tuition fees which helped me to focus on my studies and alleviate the financial stress of studying.
Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship
- Assessment and selection process
- Scholarship terms and conditions
- Eligibility and supporting documents
All scholarship applications will be reviewed and assessed by UOW College and UOW Woolyungah Indigenous Centre representatives. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their scholarship application following the completion of the assessment process, prior to course commencement.
See Aunty Linda Cruse Scholarship Terms and Conditions (PDF) for full details.
*An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is someone who:
- identifies as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; AND,
- is accepted and recognised by the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community in which they reside or have family connection to, as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person; AND,
- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation:
- A Confirmation of Aboriginality: By a letter with a common seal signed by the chairperson of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander incorporated organisation in which the applicant lives or has previously lived, e.g. lands council or Aboriginal cultural centre.
Woolyungah Indigenous centre understands that sometimes obtaining an official confirmation of Aboriginality can be challenging. Therefore, we accept a WIC statutory declaration of Aboriginality signed by a Justice of Peace. This is a legally binding document demonstrating your self-identification as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. The statutory declaration must be accompanied by evidence of your claim.
For more information on supporting documentation, please contact Woolyungah Indigenous Centre on 02 4221 3776.