Australian Defence Force veterans and partners of current and former-serving ADF members who are embarking on new career pursuits, can again take advantage of scholarships to support their ambitions through the Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program.
Applications are open for round two of the program, which was launched as a pilot in May this year and will continue in 2025.
The program is already making an impact on the veteran community by alleviating the financial pressures for those undertaking higher education to pursue new career aspirations.
Former Air Force officer Ash Muir and Army veteran Elyse Goodwin were among 18 South Australians awarded scholarships through the first round, which provided a total of $50,000 in grant funding.
The successful recipients received up to $5,000 each to cover study costs as they pursue study and training across a range of in-demand jobs, including nursing, medicine, cyber security, engineering, data science and law.
Exploring new horizons beyond military service
When Elyse left her role as a medical technician with the Australian Army earlier this year to pursue a career in nursing, the transition came with its own set of unique challenges.
“When leaving Defence, you leave a large part of your identity behind to embark on your new goals to grow,” Elyse said.
“You struggle to relay your soldier skillset into your new career, but the values Defence instils in you remains, which causes you to stand out in a positive way.”
While Elyse rediscovered a new sense of identity and purpose beyond her military service, she faced a new obstacle: the financial stress of studying.
She credits Veterans SA’s Tertiary Scholarship program for easing that burden, by covering her tuition costs while on placement, a period when she couldn’t participate in paid work.
“Financial struggles largely impacted my standard of living, which had to change when I left Defence. This scholarship alleviated the pressure I felt this semester,” she said.
“It allowed me to wholly focus on placement and developing my skillset which is vital to saving people’s lives.”
For Ash, who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the University of South Australia, the scholarship provided a timely financial leg-up, enabling him to begin a new career journey in exercise and nutrition.
“This scholarship has provided a valuable bridge for me to begin this new chapter and pursue my academic interests,” he said.
“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.”
Supporting ADF partners in their own career aspirations
The unique challenges of military life can make it difficult for partners of current and former serving ADF personnel to invest in their own career development.
The financial pressures of studying and upskilling, along with frequent relocations, career disruptions and caregiving responsibilities, are among the many barriers Defence partners face when pursuing meaningful employment.
For Defence spouse Helen Whelan, receiving a Veterans SA scholarship helped minimise the financial impact of studying a Diploma of Nursing, supporting her ambitions to upskill as an aged care worker.
“I have a passion for supporting the older generation, but I want to be able to advocate for my residents, so I decided that the Diploma of Nursing through Open Colleges was the best place to start,” she said.
“Many Defence families would understand that there is always a financial impact when you leave a job for a move. That impact is always noticeable, but even more so when going back to study is involved.”
“The Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program came at the perfect time; it took a huge burden off my family for the first semester of the course.”
Having embarked on her study journey, Helen is excited about the future and encourages other ADF partners to apply for the scholarship to pursue their own career goals.
“To anyone who has thought about or is thinking about applying, just do it. Take the leap and do something for yourself, every bit helps.”
Grants of up to $5,000 per applicant are available to support study or training undertaken during the 2025 calendar year. Funding will cover costs such as tuition, textbooks, resources and required course equipment for study at TAFE, university, or a registered training organisation.
Applications close 23 January 2025.
Learn more and apply for the Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program
