The Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation provides partial funding for Indigenous postgraduate students to undertake research, at a leading overseas academic institution, as part of their Australian postgraduate study program. The period of study at the overseas institution can vary from a few months to a year.

The value of the Scholarship is up to AU$20,000, depending on the period of study. 

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To be eligible, applicants must:
  • Be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and be accepted as such by the community in which they live or have lived
  • Be currently enrolled in a postgraduate program at a recognised Australian academic institution
  • Be accepted into a recognised overseas academic institution to carry out postgraduate research as part of their postgraduate program in Australia
  • Be able to demonstrate that they have, or will have, sufficient funds to support themselves during the course of their postgraduate degree (such as through another scholarship, private sponsorship or personal funds)
  • Be able to demonstrate that their studies will be of benefit to their community upon their return to Australia.


When to apply:

Applications for the Roberta Sykes Scholarships are reviewed, and eligible candidates interviewed, at each board meeting of the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation.

The deadlines to submit applications in 2020 are as follows:
  • 13 January
  • 16 March
  • 18 May
  • 17 August
  • 9 November

Your Fellowship application will only be reviewed by the Board if you have been accepted in to a recognised overseas academic institution to carry out postgraduate research as part of your postgraduate program in Australia. You should submit your application to the Foundation while you await the outcome of your university application, or contact the Trust if you require further information.

To apply you will need to submit:
  1. A completed application form
  2. A personal statement outlining:
    - Why you want to do the course 
    - How you identify with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which you live or have lived and past contributions you have made within the community
    - Ways in which undertaking your chosen course will benefit the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community, and future contributions you plan to make to the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community (and wider community) following completion of the course 
    - Future contributions you plan to make to the Indigenous community (and wider community) following completion of the course.
     3.  Your curriculum vitae
     4.  Academic transcript(s)
     5.  Four (4) written references, which highlight you capabilities, your past contribution to the Indigenous community, and the perceived future benefit of doing your     
         chosen course. These should be:
         - Two academic;
         - One from and Elder in your community (which should highlight your connection to the community);
         - One personal.
     6.  Confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent through a signed statement (including common seal) from the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
         Heritage Association, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Corporation or Land Council of the country of your ancestors. If applicable, candidates are encouraged to 
        provide a written statement from the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Heritage Association, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Corporation or Land Council of the
        community in which they live or have lived and/or are connected to. 
    7.   A passport sized photo
    8.   A financial budget.

Selection of successful applicants will be based on academic merit, financial need, and the applicant’s past and future contributions to the Indigenous communities and to Australia more generally.

Please check your application thoroughly as any errors may delay the process. You can send your application to the International Scholarships Coordinator at Aurora. 


The Foundation requests that recipients of the Roberta Sykes Fellowship: 
  • Provide regular email reports outlining their progress - these reports will be used in our newsletters and on our website
  • Notify the Trust of the dates and destination of any travel outside the country of study during the term of the Scholarship
  • Recognise that in the event that they withdraw from or are removed from their course, the Fellowship may be rescinded by the Foundation, in full or in part, and they may be liable to repay to the Foundation any amounts that were paid under the Fellowship
  • Agree that, on their return to Australia, they will provide reasonable assistance to the Foundation in the fulfilment of its objectives, including attending fundraising events,  providing orientation advice to other Scholars funded by the Foundation and providing annual written updates on their progress and their career for inclusion in newsletters and on our website.

If you require further information or wish to discuss your application before submitting please contact us.
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