With the pilot Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program proving successful and receiving such strong interest, we are delighted to continue offering scholarships to help equip veterans and their partners with the skills to thrive in their future careers in the civilian workforce.
Joe Szakacs MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
The Malinauskas Government is continuing its successful Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program in 2025, building on the outcomes of this year’s pilot, which saw 18 South Australians supported to pursue their study ambitions.
The pilot was launched in May this year to help ease the financial burden of undertaking higher education faced by Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans and partners of current and former-serving veterans. The program assists them to embark on new career journeys beyond their military service and experience.
Thirty eligible applications were received, with $50,000 in grant funding shared among 18 South Australians who secured scholarships through the pilot program, which attracted strong interest from high-calibre applicants.
The successful recipients received between $500 and $5,000 each to assist with studies across a range of in-demand jobs, including nursing, medicine, cyber security, engineering, data science and law.
The program was established in response to veteran community feedback about the financial barriers to higher education faced by former serving ADF members and partners, often trying to support themselves and their families while finding a new purpose after leaving the military.
For current recipient and former Air Force Officer Ash Muir, who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of South Australia, the scholarship helped reduce the financial pressures of carving out a new career path in exercise and nutrition, supporting his aspirations to give back to the veteran community by improving their health and wellbeing.
Fellow scholarship recipient Elyse Goodwin, who left her role as an Army Medical Technician in 2024, found the scholarship had a large impact in alleviating the stress of not being able to work during placements, as she pursues her Bachelor of Nursing.
Following the success of the pilot, the scholarship program has been extended for 2025, with grants of up to $5,000 per applicant available to support study or training undertaken in the next calendar year.
Funding can be used to support costs such as tuition, textbooks, resources and required course equipment for study at TAFE, university, or a registered training organisation.
For more information on how to apply, visit veteranssa.sa.gov.au/tertiary-scholarship-program/.
Quotes attributable to Joe Szakacs
With the pilot Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program proving successful and receiving such strong interest, we are delighted to continue offering scholarships to help equip veterans and their partners with the skills to thrive in their future careers in the civilian workforce.
Our commitment to this program reaffirms the State Government’s strong support of the veteran community. We know the transition to civilian life can bring unique challenges for many veterans and we want to help them during this significant time in their lives by providing financial support to set them up for future success.
Quotes attributable to Elyse Goodwin, Army veteran, Bachelor of Nursing student
When leaving Defence, you leave a large part of your identity behind to embark on your new goals to grow.
You struggle to relay your soldier skillset into your new career, but the values Defence instils in you remain, which causes you to stand out in a positive way.
This scholarship paid my tuition fees this semester which was a huge help and allowed me to wholly focus on placement and developing my skillset which is vital to saving people’s lives.
Quotes attributable to Ash Muir, Air Force veteran, Bachelor of Health Science student
My goal is to support veterans in the areas of nutrition and exercise, driven by a genuine desire to enhance their overall wellbeing.
With my background and experiences, hopefully, I will be well-positioned to make a meaningful impact by helping fellow veterans understand and apply the benefits of good nutrition and exercise as part of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
This scholarship has provided a valuable bridge for me to begin this new chapter and pursue my academic interests.
Quotes attributable to Helen Whelan, ADF partner, Diploma of Nursing student
Many Defence families are aware of that there is always a financial impact when one of you has to leave a job for a move. That impact is always noticeable, but even more so if going back to study is involved.
For my family the Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program came at the perfect time and took a huge burden off my family for the first semester of the course.
My message to anyone who has thought about or is thinking about applying is just do it. Take the leap and do something for yourself, every bit helps.
