The Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program provides grants of up to $5,000 (incl. GST) to support eligible veterans and partners of current-serving and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members to undertake higher education and training.
Financial challenges can heavily influence the career direction and progression of veteran community members as they navigate their professional lives in the civilian workforce.
Since it was established in 2024, more than 35 South Australians have been supported to pursue their study ambitions through the Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program. A new round of scholarships is now on offer to support study in the 2026 calendar year, with a total of $50,000 in funding available.
The program aims to reduce the financial burden to higher education faced by current-serving and former ADF members and partners, often trying to support themselves and their families while finding a new purpose or career direction.
About the scholarship program:
Through the scholarship program, eligible veterans and partners of current-serving and former ADF members can apply to receive up to 75% of their out-of-pocket education expenses, capped at $5,000 (incl. GST) per applicant. The funds can be used to support costs such as tuition, textbooks, resources and required course equipment.
The scholarship process is competitive, and applications may be funded in full, partially funded or not funded at all.
Higher priority will be given to applicants who seek to develop their skills and knowledge in one of the key industries outlined in the Government of South Australia’s Jobs and Skills Outlook 2024. This includes agriculture; forestry and fishing; construction; defence and manufacturing; digital, technology and cybersecurity; education and training; health and care; renewable energy and hydrogen and resources.
The Program is administered in partnership with the Public Trustee.
Eligibility criteria:
To be eligible to apply for funding under the Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program, applicants must:
- be a South Australian resident
- have Australian permanent residency status
- be a former permanent serving member of the ADF or the partner of a current or former-serving ADF member.
- be enrolled or planning to enrol in a tertiary course of study (recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework) at a university, TAFE or a registered training organisation in Australia.
- at the time of applying to the Program, not be in receipt of any education scholarships, including but not limited to scholarships from the Australian Government designed to offset higher degree fees.
Applications for the program are now closed.
For detailed information on the fund assessment and application process:
Key dates:
5 November 2025: Scholarship fund applications open
9 February 2026: Applications close at 5.00 pm. Late applications will not be considered.
March 2026: Applicants will be notified of the outcome by the Public Trustee within three weeks of the closing date.
15 June 2026: All supporting documentation must be provided to the Public Trustee.
Enquiries:
For more information:
Contact: Veterans SA
Phone: 08 7133 9333, Option 1
Email: [email protected]
Please include ‘Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program – (nature of the enquiry)’ in the subject line. A response will be provided within three business days.
Elizabeth
Royal Australian Air Force veteran, 2024 scholarship recipient
“The Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship has helped me focus on my Master of Applied Data Science studies, giving me the opportunity to reskill and pursue a meaningful career in Adelaide’s growing defence industry. It is exciting to be back in defence, contributing to something meaningful again.”
Tim
Royal Australian Navy veteran, 2024 scholarship recipient
“The Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship supported my cybersecurity studies, helping me formalise my knowledge and build new skills to meet emerging threats in the digital space. It’s already made a real impact in my current role, where I’ve contributed to policy development and promoted a strong cybersecurity culture within my organisation.”
Ash
Royal Australian Air Force veteran, 2023 scholarship recipient
“The Veterans SA Tertiary Scholarship Program has been vital in alleviating the financial pressure of further education, allowing me to concentrate on my goals. This scholarship has provided a crucial opportunity for me to start this new chapter and pursue my academic passions.”
Elyse
Australian Army veteran, 2023 scholarship recipient
“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.”
