2003 Minerals Council Scholarships

Young Indigenous students are invited to apply for the 2003 Minerals Council Scholarships under Guidelines released by the Minerals Council of Australia and The Foundation for Young Australians.

The national scholarships, totalling $80,000, are awarded to outstanding young indigenous secondary and tertiary students aged 25 years or under.

Recipients can be from any study discipline eg education, medicine, law or metallurgy.

Mitchell Hooke, Chief Executive, Minerals Council of Australia says the Minerals Council and its member companies recognise the critical role of education and training in ensuring the active participation of the Indigenous community in the minerals and other industries.

Hooke says the Council’s scholarship program, together with specific programs run by mining companies, therefore aims to provide greater opportunities for Indigenous participation in further education.

The scholarships are an initiative of the Minerals Council of Australia and are managed by The Foundation for Young Australians. The scholarships aim to offer young Indigenous students the opportunity to study, improve their work skills and enhance their future employment prospects by providing greater access to resources and facilities.

The scholarships are awarded by a panel of Indigenous people and are decided primarily on merit and need while also taking into account the likely contribution the recipient will make to their community in the future.

Mary Wooldridge, the Chief Executive Officer of The Foundation for Young Australians says these scholarships provide an opportunity to further young Indigenous people’s skills and talents through education, and as a result, enhance the opportunities they have for themselves and their communities in the future,
The Minerals Council of Australia represents companies involved in mineral exploration, mining and processing of minerals, which between them produce 90% of Australia’s mineral output.

As the peak national representative organisation, the Minerals Council is recognised for its policy leadership and issues management in promoting the development of a safe, profitable and environmentally responsible minerals industry, that is internationally competitive and attuned to community expectations.

The Foundation for Young Australians is a Not for Profit organisation, committed to developing initiatives that support and empower the lives of young Australians aged 12 to 25. The Foundation commits approximately $3 million each year to initiatives that help provide young people with opportunities to reach their full potential and make a contribution to the community.

The organisation invests approximately 20% of total grant funding to initiatives that support indigenous young people.

Potential applicants can find out more by logging onto www.youngaustralians.orgor by calling 1800 252 316. Applications close on Wednesday 8th January 2003.