Connellan Airways Trust and Charles Darwin University (CDU) congratulate Zoe Shepherd & Richard McWaters the 2023 recipients of the Connellan Airways Trust Outback Scholarship.

For the third year running, the two scholarships of $5000 each, offer an opportunity for geographically remote students to help reach their Higher Education or Vocational Education Training (VET) goals.

Celebrating 40 years, Connellan Airways Trust was established in Alice Springs by founder E.J Connellan. The Trust offers a significant range of grant and scholarship opportunities to people living in the outback.

Partnering with CDU for the first time in 2021, Chair Mark Coffey said the Trust is pleased to be continuing this scholarship with the university.

“We purposely made this scholarship versatile to support not only higher education, but skills-based VET and short courses. It’s all about capacity building in the outback,” Mr Coffey said.

Charles Darwin University’s Director of Advancement, Simon Matthias says the university places enormous importance on supporting remote students achieve their education goals. “The Northern Territory spans approximately one sixth of Australia’s landmass and yet is home to just one percent of the Australia’s population. No other Australian university serves such a large area of the continent, in such remote locations but it is critical that everyone, irrespective of where they live, has access to the same education opportunities.”

“The Connellan Airways Trust Outback Scholarship financially supports students and eases some of the challenges facing outback students in pursuing education and training opportunities,” he said.

One of this year’s recipients of the Outback Scholarship is third year Bachelor of Midwifery student Zoe Shepherd. Miss Shepherd was born and raised in Nhulunbuy, north-east Arnhem Land.

“Due to where I live, the local hospital here cannot facilitate my clinical placements, so I have to temporarily relocate for several weeks of placement this year,” Miss Shepherd said.

“These placements are broken up into various blocks over the year. This scholarship means I can travel and be accommodated, away from my young family, to complete my practical training.”

“It is assisting me in fulfilling my dreams of becoming a Registered Midwife, a profession with a huge shortage in the outback. I hope to encourage other people in remote Outback Australia to pursue their dreams, because there are places like this [Connellan Airways Trust and CDU] who can help us, even though we are remote,” she said.

The Outback Scholarship will be open for applications on the CDU Scholarships website again in January 2024. You can also visit the Connellan Airways Trust website to learn more about how the Trust empowers people living in Outback Australia: www.connellanairwaystrust.org.au

For Media enquiries contact:

Connellan Airways Trust:        Jessica Hacket, Executive Officer: 0439 049 646               

Charles Darwin University:    Simon Matthias, Director of Advancement: 08 89467501