ANZ scholarship targets Indigenous students

ANZ and Southern Cross University have joined forces to provide increased opportunities for Indigenous students through a new $15,000 scholarship.

The ANZ Indigenous Undergraduate Scholarship will be launched today (July 31) by Professor Bill MacGillivray, Southern Cross University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, as part of the NAIDOC Week celebrations at the Lismore campus.

The launch will be followed by an address by Professor Judy Atkinson, Head of Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples.

The new scholarship will be available in 2008 to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student enrolling in any three-year full-time degree at the Lismore, Coffs Harbour or Tweed Gold Coast campuses. Applicants may be school leavers or mature-age students.

Professor MacGillivray welcomed the contribution from ANZ.

“Southern Cross University is committed to improving education pathways for Indigenous students. This significant contribution from ANZ will provide much-needed financial support and help open up new educational opportunities,” Professor MacGillivray said.

In July 2006, ANZ released a Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation, and subsequently, in April 2007, the Chief Executive Officer Mr John McFarlane released the ANZ Reconciliation Action Plan.

Mr Leigh Sellers, the Regional Manager for ANZ’s NSW North Coast Regional, Rural and Small Business Banking division, has played a key role in implementing that plan.

“I am extremely grateful to be able to support the ANZ Indigenous Scholarship,” Mr Sellers said. “Helping to improve the social and economic wellbeing of Indigenous Australians is a key part of ANZ's overall social responsibility and I believe that the ANZ Indigenous Scholarship is a significant milestone towards this.

“Our recent alliance with Southern Cross University has allowed us to develop a regionally based graduate program which provides graduates the opportunity to forge a career with ANZ.

“The contribution graduates make to ANZ is enormous, and I am 100 per cent dedicated to supporting higher education within our local region.”

The ANZ Indigenous Undergraduate Scholarship will be launched at noon on Tuesday, July 31, in the Whitebrook Theatre, Lismore campus.

Photo(from left): ANZ area manager Damian Kulmar, regional manager Leigh Sellers, agribusiness manager Jaclyn Hope and Professor Judy Atkinson at the launch of the ANZ Undergraduate Indigenous Scholarship during Naidoc Week at SCU.

Media contact: Brigid Veale Southern Cross University communications manager 02 66593006 or 0439 680 748.