Federation students get record scholarship boost

The number of students supported through scholarships at Federation University Australia is growing with each year, with the University awarding a record 309 scholarships in 2025 across its campuses, up from 245 in 2024.

This amounts to more than $1 million worth of assistance in partnership with generous donors, a proud milestone for Federation which began with just four scholarships upon its formation in 2014.

Scholarships give students the opportunity to succeed in their studies without the stress of financial pressure, helping to cover costs including textbooks, petrol, groceries and computers.

Twenty-five scholarships have been awarded in Berwick this year, 21 in the Wimmera, 166 in Ballarat and 97 in Gippsland.

For Ballarat Diploma of Nursing student Megan Roe, the staff-funded TAFE scholarship has enabled her to buy the textbooks she needs and travel to and from class.

Transport and travel can pose challenges for Megan who has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that impacts the whole body including the respiratory system and digestive system.

"Before the scholarship, I was having to miss days because I couldn’t afford to get to class, and now I can get there financially stress-free,” Megan said.

"After growing up in hospitals, I knew I was interested in healthcare and wanted to make a change in the health industry."

The 26-year-old said her goal was to eventually study medicine and the Diploma was the first step on the pathway to get there.

"When you’ve got CF, by 16 you’re administering your own medication and starting to know your body and the signs of illness just like a doctor would.

"I would really like to create a positive impact for people in that situation.”

This year, 55 per cent of foundation scholarship recipients are the first in their family to attend university, one in three have an ongoing illness or disability, 60 per cent are experiencing acute financial hardship, and 47 per cent have experienced domestic or family violence.

Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley, said scholarships helped to give students peace of mind so they could participate fully in their studies.

“We are proud to give students the support they need to give life to their aspirations,” Professor Bentley said.

“This year’s record number of scholarships would not be possible without the support of generous donors, and we thank them for helping to transform the lives of Federation students.”

Gippsland Bachelor of Science student Jada Fischer said receiving the Loy Yang B Women in STEM Scholarship took the cost pressure off her studies.

"It allows me to buy textbooks for the year and pay for petrol to get to uni,” Jada said.
“If something happens to my laptop I’ll be able to get it fixed. Everything I need for uni, it will help me be able to get there."

The first in her family to go to university, Jada has always taken an interest in science. 
"I've always liked knowing how things work, always wanted to know ‘how does that happen?'"

Jada hopes to eventually work in environmental science to combat the effects of climate change.

For Wimmera Diploma of Nursing student Kerry Piera, the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Scholarship has supported her to pay for accommodation during placement in Ballarat and will go towards study materials when she embarks on a Bachelor of Nursing degree next year.

Caring for both parents through illness as a teenager and later working in disability support motivated Kerry to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse.

"My father suffered with renal failure when I was in my teens in an era when district nursing didn’t exist, so mum and I nursed him for four-and-a-half years before he died,” Kerry said.

"Then mum got breast cancer and I was her carer, so nursing is something I’ve always wanted to do.

"I went into the course with some pre-existing knowledge, but I’ve learnt so much more and the teaching staff have been nothing short of wonderful."

As well as embarking on university study, Kerry now has the opportunity to work in cancer, dialysis and palliative care through the Wimmera Cancer Centre at Horsham.

For Berwick Master of Social Work (Qualifying) student Vianca Jasmin Anglo, receiving the Emerging Leader International Student Scholarship means being able to focus on her placement and not worry about the financial stress of daily life.

“Having this scholarship is a blessing. The University has been such a big help when it comes to pursuing my goals and aspirations and I can see my goals more clearly with this help,” Vianca said.

Having worked in IT in the Philippines, Vianca hopes to merge the two disciplines to explore how IT can help make unseen communities seen.

“I am seeking different perspectives on how we can empower these communities and how we can be more holistic and inclusive when it comes to duty of care,” Vianca said.

More information about Federation University’s scholarships can be found at www.federation.edu.au/engage/give-to-federation/scholarships/