Rural Veterinary Students Scholarship

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

• be an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or the holder of a Permanent Humanitarian visa
• be enrolled to commence study in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM1) or in the Veterinary Bioscience specialisation in the third year of the Bachelor of Science
• meet the rural student criteria*
• provide a personal statement**

Rural Requirements

A rural or isolated area is defined as an area with a Remote Areas (ASGC-RA) Australian Standard Geographic Classification of: RA2 – Inner Regional, RA3 – Outer Regional, RA4 – Remote, or RA5 – Very Remote. The Department of Health and Ageing uses this categorisation system for a number of programs related to medical practice in Australia. You can check the classification of your rural or isolated address on the Department of Health and Ageing website.

*You are eligible to apply if:

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

• your residential (home) address is in an area with a classification of RA2 or higher. If you attended boarding school, you can use your family’s primary home as your qualifying address. You can’t use holiday homes, secondary residences and investment properties to qualify.
• have a home address in a remote or rural part of Australia for at least three of the past five years

**Your Personal statement should include

1. To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

   • the address(es) of your residence and dates you lived there; AND
   • an explanation of why you feel you have been negatively impacted by your association with this address. Please be clear regarding whether this impact relates to the past or is ongoing. For example, if your previous tertiary results were impacted as a result of your residence at this address, explain why. If this is no longer your primary residence but you maintain a connection that continues to impact you, explain the ongoing impact of your connection. If you currently live in a rural or isolated location, explain the challenges you will face in relocating for your study, etc.
   • Details of your schooling and the name of your school.
2. Evidence: Provide evidence that supports your personal statement, this can include:

   To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

   • a letter of support written and signed by a responsible independent source not related to you (i.e. doctor, lawyer, accountant, social worker, counsellor, religious or community leader or teacher). This letter must be dated, signed and on letterhead (if possible) and include dates and duration of impact.
   • Documents to prove residence such as invoices for telephone, utilities or bank statements showing your (or your family’s) address.

Selection criteria

Selection is based on

• demonstrated academic merit
• your personal statement
• your rural score