Monash University will offer more than $50 million in scholarships over the next three years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students experiencing economic disadvantage, including those in Hume and Whittlesea.
Monash launched the new scholarship program, Kummargi Yulendj, on September 7, which will better support Indigenous and economically disadvantaged students, including those from regional or remote areas, to undertake higher education.
Acting provost and senior vice-president professor Sharon Pickering said the program will be in place for incoming students in 2024, and will build on previous scholarship support.
“Monash is committed to empowering the next generation of changemakers to reach their full potential through our enriched scholarships program, Kummargi Yulendj,” she said.
“It offers financial support at a level to make a difference as well as sector leading support programs to ensure student success.”
More than 6000 students will be eligible to study for a university degree under an expanded and diversified program.
Indigenous students undertaking a three year undergraduate degree, relocating from a regional or remote area, can receive a minimum $25,500, or at least $38,500 for a five year double degree.
Economically disadvantaged students undertaking a three year undergraduate degree, relocating from a regional or remote area, may receive a minimum $24,000, or at least $36,000 for a five year double degree.
Yaluk-ut Weelam Boon Wurrung Elder and art, design and architecture adjunct professor N’arweet Carolyn Briggs AM gifted the name Kummargi Yulendj to the scholarship program, which translates to Knowledge is Rising.
The name is grounded in her family’s deep connection to the Ngargee, or ceremony tree, in St Kilda.
Standing strong for 800 years, this towering red gum symbolises knowledge and its power to create lasting impact.
“What it means to me is the generations of knowledge that it holds. Kummargi is rising up. Yulendj is a knowledge, deep knowledge that is rising up,” she said.
“The Ngargee tree is symbolic of something that is old, before settlers. It’s more than a tree – it will be a habitat long after this too.
“We’ve got 80,000 years of human history, and that knowledge has somehow survived. With Kummargi Yulendj Monash has made its commitment to knowledge being shared across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.”
