Scholarships help students achieve

A RECORD amount of financial assistance has been offered to Federation University students this year.

Across all campuses, 309 scholarships awarded a total of more than $1 million of support.

Four scholarships were offered when the university was forned in 2014 and this year’s figure is an increase on 2024’s 245 scholarships.

Ballarat students received 166 of this year’s scholarships, which will assist students with the cost of textbooks, petrol, groceries and computers.

Ballarat Diploma of Nursing student Megan Roe received a staff-funded TAFE scholarship, which has enabled her to buy the textbooks she needs and to travel to and from class.

Ms Roe has cystic fibrosis, which can make transport challenging.

“Before the scholarship, I was having to miss days because I couldn’t afford to get to class, and now I can get there financially stress-free,” she said.

“After growing up in hospitals, I knew I was interested in healthcare and wanted to make a change in the health industry.”

The diploma is Ms Roe’s first step towards her dream of studying medicine.

“When you’ve got CF, by 16 you’re administering your own medication and starting to know your body and the signs of illness just like a doctor would,” she said. “I would really like to create a positive impact for people in that situation.”

Of this year’s scholarship recipients, one in three have an ongoing illness or disability.

Sixty per cent are experiencing acute financial hardship, and 47 per cent have experienced domestic or family violence.

“We are proud to give students the support they need to give life to their aspirations,” Federation University vice-chancellor and president Professor Duncan Bentley said.

“This year’s record number of scholarships would not be possible without the support of generous donors, and we thank them for helping to transform the lives of Federation students.”