UQ students are once again being offered the chance to apply for the Zonta Bursary for Australian Indigenous Women.
Members of the Zonta Breakfast Club of Brisbane Inc and the Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc, with the assistance of UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit (ATSIS) will again unite through the project.
On July 29, a special information session will be held at the ATSIS Unit, Gordon Greenwood Building (sixth floor–Room 607) at 5:30pm for all students interested in applying for the bursary.
Zonta is a global organisation whose mission is to advance the status of women through service and advocacy.
Director of the ATSIS Unit Michael Williams will chair the information session, while founding member of the project Jennifer West, from the Zonta Club of Brisbane Inc, will give a power point presentation on the bursary’s history and former recipient Katherine Williams will present her story.
Ms Williams, who is currently in her first year of a Masters of Clinical Psychology, credits the award to expanding her support network.
Ms Williams moved to Brisbane about five years ago to pursue university studies, leaving her family behind.
Not only did the award offer much-needed financial assistance during Ms William’s Honours year but it also allowed her to meet other individuals who became her confidantes and ongoing pillars of support.
Ms Williams said she hoped to use the skills gained within her course to assist with substance abuse in Indigenous communities.
“Indigenous students, and in particular Indigenous women, are largely underrepresented at University and Zonta bursaries help address this,” she said.
“I firmly believe the attraction and retention of Indigenous students is key to making a difference and ‘closing the gap’ and Zonta helps make this possible.
“My grandmother never had access to the opportunities I have, and for that I am grateful.”
Zonta Breakfast Club of Queensland Inc President Judi Hutchison said the bursary provided an opportunity for students to be mentored and opened pathways to education, training and employment to assist in the development of their career.
“From Zonta’s perspective it gives us a better understanding of the cultural issues facing Indigenous students and contributes to society by closing the obvious gap with the disproportionate number of Indigenous professionals,” Ms Hutchison said.
“It is the ripple effect which hopefully can produce a societal change.
“With the combined efforts of both the Brisbane Club Inc and Brisbane Breakfast Clubs, the bursary’s future can be continued through support, fundraising and guidance of members.”
The bursary is open to UQ Indigenous women students, in any course, who have completed 16 units of study towards their degree at the University by the commencement of the award.
Two students will be offered the bursary for $1000 per semester for two semesters of the 2010 academic year ($2000 per student in total).
Students can obtain an application for the bursary from the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit office in August 2009. Applications close September 25, 2009.
For more information on Zonta visit www.zonta.org
Media: Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)
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