Our district, in common with most rural areas, faces the social dislocation of youth with ability and potential, leaving the district in order to continue their education at University. Once the youth have left, it is difficult to attract them back to the country as there is a perception of a lack of jobs and opportunity to further a career outside the metropolitan areas.
When rural students are accepted into a University course, they are faced with accommodation costs in addition to the costs of university education. This places a burden on rural families not experienced by those in metropolitan areas.
The government sector, including semi government bodies such as water authorities are not seen as employers of choice for most graduates who prefer instead to pursue a career in the private sector.
The Swan Hill Rural City Council scholarship program enables local students to pursue their tertiary studies in a field in which Council has a (future) staffing requirement. Scholarships will be paid annually to local students whilst the students continue to attend the selected course and pass the subjects.
Students will be required to work at Council in the chosen field during semester breaks, being paid the relevant Award rate. At the end of the course, students may take up employment (if offered) by Council for a period of twelve months.
Benefits to you and your community
The scholarship will reduce the financial burden of undertaking university education for students and provide relevant work experience, whilst exposing him/her to the facets of their chosen career within the rural local government context.
It will enable students to identify early in their career the opportunities and desirability of working in local government, in the country, and provide them with better future recruitment opportunities due to the relevant work experience undertaken during their studies.
The Council will have an opportunity to identify the capability of students during the term of the scholarship, and has the option to employ them at the end of their studies. The twelve month employment term is dependent on position availability, so if Council does not have a vacancy, it is not obliged to offer a position.
Value
The scholarship will be $2,000 per annum per student plus 7 weeks of paid employment during semester breaks.
Criteria for awarding Scholarship
- Acceptance into approved tertiary course
- Resident of the Swan Hill Rural City municipality
- Wanting to work in Rural Victoria after graduation
- Council’s need for the technical skills being acquired
- Willingness to work for Swan Hill Rural City Council for a minimum of 12 months after graduation (if a position exists)
Please note that Scholarships are not restricted to first year University students and applications are encouraged from students who have already partially completed their studies.
Tertiary Courses of Interest to Swan Hill Rural City Council
- Environmental Health
- Maternal and Child Health (applicants require existing nursing qualifications)
- Statutory (Town) Planners
- Civil Engineering
- Horticulture
- Building/Surveying
- Risk Management
- Environmental Management
- Economic Development
- Venue Management / Theatre Technician
- Tourism / Marketing / Event Management
- Community Planning / Recreation / Project Management
- Visual / Performing Arts
Scholarship details
Payment of $1,000.00 per semester. This payment is for each semester in advance, made as follows:
- First payment: Upon enrolment into the nominated course
- Subsequent payments: Upon receipt of semester results showing a pass in the majority of subjects in the previous semester
Study break employment
Scholarship holders shall undertake employment in an area of Council relevant to their studies, at remuneration in accordance with Parts A and B Swan Hill Rural City Council Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2021.
Employment usually commences in the week following the completion of the second semester examinations, for up to seven weeks. Due to office closure, there is usually a break during the Christmas/New Year period.
Employment upon graduation
Upon successful completion of the nominated course, the Swan Hill Rural City Council may offer full time employment in a relevant role. If employment is offered, the scholarship recipient acknowledges their intention to work for Council in that position for a period of not less than 12 months.
Application close
Applications close at 12noon on Thursday, 17 February 2022. It is anticipated that interviews will be held on Thursday, 24 February 2022.
Apply now
- Download and complete the PDF application form: 2022 Scholarship Application (pdf 107kb)
