Ben Chifley Scholarships
The Ben Chifley Scholarships are awarded annually to NSW country based 1st year apprentices whose jobs are in jeopardy because of hardship.
Each Scholarship is valued at $5,000 for every year the recipient is completing their apprenticeship up to a maximum of $15,000.
At least two of the Scholarships will be awarded to people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background each year.
There were ten scholarships awarded in 2011.
On this page:
Who is eligible?
Apprentices who live and work in country NSW and are Australian citizens are eligible to be nominated. See the guidelines for full eligibility criteria.
How to nominate for a scholarship
Apprentices have to be nominated by their employer and trade teacher or registered training organisation.
If you employ an apprentice or you’re a trade teacher and know an apprentice who has aptitude for their trade but needs some financial help, you can obtain a nomination form and guidelines booklet from this site or from one of the State Training Services regional offices.
Assessment criteria
Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of:
- hardship
- aptitude for vocational education and training, and
- the nominee’s trade in on the identified skills need area in NSW and/or the nominee’s local area.
About the assessment criteria
Any relevant evidence can be provided to demonstrate hardship and aptitude – it’s solely up to the apprentice, the employer and trade teacher.
For example:
- "hardship" could take into account issues such as financial circumstances, family situation (eg carer status) and/or generational unemployment. Equity criteria could also be used to demonstrate hardship eg Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with a disability, mature-aged people
- "aptitude" for vocational education and training could be demonstrated by past performance in the apprenticeship, participation in trade skills competitions, references from employers attesting to the nominee’s skills, school results or assessments in trade subjects, examples of the nominee’s work, level of experience
- skills shortage areas are those trade occupations identified in the National Skills Needs List.
Please contact one of our offices and discuss your nomination.
when can I lodge a nomination?
Nominations are open from around February each year. Watch this space, or contact your local State Training Services centre any time for more information.
Winners will be announced by the Premier of New South Wales and State Training Services will notify successful nominees in writing.
