Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship Program provides financial and work experience support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students.
With financial and social barriers often hindering educational pathways, we seek to champion and offer support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who are undertaking university education.
Upon completion of their studies, there is the potential for scholars to apply for a graduate position within Essential Energy.
We currently support four students from two regional universities who are studying either part-time or full time across Law, Communication (Public Relations) and Engineering.
Each year we advertise with regional universities for scholars to commence with the program in March. Interviews are facilitated by members of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander working group and payment of the scholarship is administered by the university.
We work closely with each scholar to ensure they are fully supported in their learning journey, including the undertaking of work experience placements and engagement with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander working group.
If you have questions, or would like to know more about these scholarships, please contact us via email.
Ebony’s story
Ebony Adams, a proud Gamilaroi woman, is studying a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law at the University of New England. Ebony was awarded an Essential Energy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship in 2018, while in her second year of study. Prior to receiving the scholarship, Ebony worked part-time six days a week to support her studies. Working this amount of time ever y week on top of studying full-time was difficult and took a toll on her studies and emotional wellbeing.
“Having Essential Energy support me financially has changed my life, enabling me to focus more on my studies and to participate in extra-curricular activities that I was not able to do before receiving this scholarship.”
In 2019 Ebony was elected as the President of the UNE Indigenous Students Association and invited to speak at the UNE NAIDOC ceremony and to be the Master of Ceremonies at the prestigious UNE Annual Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture.
