STUDENT PROGRAMS

A carer is a person of any age who provides ongoing support to someone with a long-term medical condition, mental illness, disability, frailty, or palliative care needs. For this application, the carer may be the child (applicant) or the parent/legal guardian. Evidence may include a Centrelink CRN with Carer Payment/Allowance, or an independent statement from a responsible person (e.g. educator, doctor, lawyer, social worker, community or religious leader) confirming your carer responsibilities, explaining your educational disadvantage, and why you are not receiving a Carer Payment or Carer Allowance.

Financial hardship applies if your family is receiving a Centrelink (or other Commonwealth) means-tested income support payment (e.g. Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment Single, Carer Payment), expecting to receive such a payment (application submitted), or experiencing exceptional financial hardship beyond your control, supported by evidence. Families eligible for Centrelink support but choosing not to claim it, or with income above Centrelink thresholds, are not considered eligible under exceptional hardship.

Your child is considered disadvantaged if your family’s permanent residence is in a regional or remote area of Australia (all categories outside ‘RA1 – Major Cities’ under the ASGC-RA system). Evidence of residential address must be provided in the name of the child, parent or guardian (e.g. school attendance letter, Centrelink letter, electoral roll, utilities bill, phone bill, or bank statement).

The ASGC-RS system map can be accessed at doctorconnect.gov.au. (Navigate to the Health Workforce Locator and enter your residential address.) You can use this tool to check your postcode. All categories other than ‘RA1 – Major Cities of Australia’ are considered regional or remote.

Sole parent responsibility applies where a single parent has at least one dependent child under 18 who is wholly or primarily in their care and living in Australia. Evidence may include a Centrelink Parenting Payment (Single) CRN or a supporting statement from a responsible person.

Applies if the child, parent, or guardian experiences a severe, long-term, or recurrent medical/psychiatric condition, disability, or trauma that affects the child’s ability to study. Evidence includes a personal statement, a medical impact statement, and an educational impact statement from a responsible person.

Applies if the child identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Evidence may include a letter from your child's school or an Indigenous person employed in an Indigenous identified position. This must also contain the organisation’s letterhead.

Applies if the child has been placed in out-of-home care (e.g. foster, kinship, residential care) due to government intervention. Evidence may include caseworker letters or Children’s Court papers.

Applies if the child, parent, or guardian holds or has held a recognised Australian refugee or humanitarian visa. Evidence includes a copy of visa documentation, UNHCR/Red Cross registration, or humanitarian entry papers.

Applies if the child has arrived in Australia from a non-English speaking background within the last five years, has studied at an English language school for less than two years, and experiences language-related barriers to study. Evidence may include immigration records, arrival confirmation, or school enrolment documentation. 

• Centrelink CRN in the parent/guardian’s name 
• Centrelink application receipt (if awaiting approval) 
• Personal statement outlining exceptional financial hardship 
• Supporting statement from a responsible person verifying hardship 

• School attendance letter showing home address 
• Centrelink letter with address 
• Electoral roll confirmation 
• Utilities bill (electricity, gas, water) 
• Phone bill 
• Bank statement with parent/guardian’s full name and address 

• Centrelink CRN showing Parenting Payment (Single) 
• Independent statement from a responsible person confirming sole parent responsibilities and educational disadvantage 

• Personal statement (from child or parent/guardian) 
• Medical impact statement (from treating health professional) 
• Educational impact statement (from a responsible person) 

• A letter from an Indigenous person employed in an Indigenous identified position. For instance, an Aboriginal School Liaison Officer or Aboriginal Community Worker. This must also contain the organisation’s letterhead.
• A letter from a school that recognises you as an Indigenous student  

• Letter from a government/non-government caseworker (on letterhead, with applicant’s details and removal date) 
• Children’s Court placement papers 

• Copy of Australian refugee or humanitarian visa 
• UNHCR or Red Cross registration documents 
• Humanitarian entry papers (e.g. Global Special Humanitarian visa) 

• Immigration records (international movement records from Dept. of Home Affairs) 
• Arrival confirmation letter from Dept. of Home Affairs 
• First immigration visa showing entry date stamp 
• School confirmation of year of enrolment in Australia 

• Placement in Selective/Gifted Class 
• Top Band NAPLAN results 
• >75% in School/Standardised Test 
• Distinction/High Distinction in national competitions (e.g. ICAS) 
• Letter from school or psychologist confirming top 5% ability 

Yes. GERRIC offers Equity and Rural Scholarships to support families. Priority is given to covering program fees, but in some cases, additional support for travel or accommodation may also be available. Allocation depends on available funds and the details provided in Rural applications. 

Please ensure you submit all required documents before the deadline to be considered in the process. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please reach out to gerric@unsw.edu.au should you need assistance.  

Yes. Even if you’ve applied before, you’ll need to upload your documents again. For privacy reasons, we don’t keep personal records on file. In addition, family circumstances can change from year to year, and this process helps us make sure scholarships are allocated fairly. 

Yes. Previous scholarship recipients are welcome to apply again. However, please note that priority is often given to new applicants.