Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and the Hunter, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC, is encouraging first-year apprentices in the region who are experiencing financial or other personal hardship, to apply for a $15,000 Bert Evans Scholarship.
Mr MacDonald said applications for Bert Evans Scholarships, which are worth $5,000 a year over three years, are now open. “The scholarships help to buy new tools, cover fuel and car maintenance costs, pay for extra training courses or cover the cost of living,” Mr MacDonald said. “There can be many reasons why apprentices face personal hardships. “They may be living away from home without any support and struggling to meet living and training costs, have a disability, or may come from difficult family situations. “I strongly encourage any local apprentices who meet the criteria to apply now for a scholarship,” he said.
Local apprentices who started their training between March 1, 2017, and May 30, 2018, are eligible to apply for this year’s scholarships. Applications for this year’s scholarships close on May 30. Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, Mr John Barilaro, said more students, parents and employers were recognising the value of vocational education and training (VET) to deliver rewarding careers and build skills that are in high demand in the community. “A career through VET can transform lives and we want to see people overcome financial or personal hardship through our VET system to set themselves up for a positive and rewarding life,” Mr Barilaro said.
“These scholarships are open to both female and male apprentices and trainees and have already helped hundreds of young people succeed in their career and make a positive contribution to their families and communities. These scholarships were named after the late Bert Evans AO, who was a passionate advocate of the VET sector for over 30 years.
Source: Media release, Mar 5 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC