Doreen Bryant Memorial Welcome Scholarship 2026

The late Doreen Bryant was a passionate advocate for the positive contributions of new settlers to Australian society and culture. She held a deep respect for stateless refugees and was committed to supporting their journey toward building new lives.

As a volunteer educator with the Australian Migrant Education Service (AMES), Doreen taught English to many newcomers and formed lasting friendships. She saw firsthand their motivation, resilience, and potential to enrich Australian society. 

In honour of her values and legacy, Doreen wished to establish scholarships in her memory to support displaced individuals on a humanitarian or asylum-seeking visa beginning their studies at Swinburne University. These students may arrive with limited resources and face challenges such as the non-recognition of prior qualifications or skills. 

The Doreen Bryant Memorial Welcome Scholarship is to be awarded to one student and is valued at $10,000 per annum for up to five (5) years, including support for honours or master’s level study in the fourth and fifth years.

Any undergraduate degree offered by Swinburne University of Technology.

To be eligible for the Doreen Bryant Memorial Welcome Scholarship, applicants must:

1. Provide evidence of currently holding one of the following*:
   • Bridging Visa 'E' (V0S0)
   • Temporary Protection Visa (V785)
   • Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (V786)
   • Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (V790)
   • other such VISA identifier as determined by the Australian Federal Government
     
     *In the event that there is no suitable refugee applicant, the scholarship may be awarded to a student living with hardship
2. Meet the following enrolment criteria:
   • be a commencing first year Swinburne student in Semester 1, 2026
   • enrolled full-time in an eligible course (see courses eligible in section above)
   • on-campus
3. Submit a personal statement of up to 500 words addressing:
   • interest in your chosen course
   • career ambitions
   • how this scholarship will make a difference in your life
     
     Your personal statement must also demonstrate your resilience, determination, and commitment to your community. This could have taken place in your home country or in any part of your journey in coming to and living in Australia. You should describe how you intend to contribute to your community and society in the future.
4. If applying as a non-refugee, provide evidence of educational disadvantage, which may fall under the categories listed below. To assist you, we’ve included a link to the VTAC website for further guidance on preparing your evidence.

   Personal information and location
   Financial hardship
   Living with a disability or medical condition
   Difficult family and life circumstances

The scholarship is valued at $10,000 per year for the normal duration of the degree for up to a maximum of five years. Funds will be paid bi-annually each year, subject to satisfactory academic progression.

Note: If the recipient completes their undergraduate degree and chooses to pursue postgraduate studies, the scholarship will extend to support honours or master’s level study in the fourth and fifth years.

Applicants should complete an online application form and submit with all supporting documentation by 15 March 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. For assistance when completing your application, please view the Scholarship Application Help Guide.

Fees and Scholarships Team, Student Administration.
scholarship@swin.edu.au