Order of Australia Association Foundation Scholarship

You can apply for this scholarship via our scholarship application process.

Application information

We use the following sections of the application to consider you for this scholarship:

Study Details

• Program.
• Secondary education history.

Achievements

• Leadership and community.

Statements

• Personal statement: In 500 words or less, outline your career goals, leadership and community involvement, and how the scholarship would benefit your studies and support your career aspirations.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to provide additional statements and may be asked to attend an interview (see "Offer process" for more details).

Value

Maximum value is $45,000, paid in two equal instalments over two years.

Payment

Payments of $22,500 will be made by Griffith University directly to the recipients nominated bank account. First instalment will be made upon acceptance of the offer, and second instalment will be made after 1 September in the following year, pending confirmation that conditions have been met.

Non-financial benefits

As an additional benefit, the Scholarship recipient will be allocated a mentor who has received an award within the Order of Australia and who is recognised for their expertise in a field relevant to the recipient’s course of study.

Donor details

The Order of Australia Association was established to promote and to support the Order of Australia and recognise the contribution of its members to the Australian and international communities, promoting activities and attitudes which foster harmony, unity and shared futures in which all people are treated with respect and dignity.

The Order of Australia Association Foundation empowers promising young Australians to achieve their potential, fostering the next generation of leaders while celebrating and promoting outstanding Australian citizenship for the benefit of future generations.

To remain eligible for the scholarship, recipients will be required to:

• remain enrolled full-time in the approved Griffith University program at census date.
• maintain a minimum GPA of 6.0

A scholarship recipient may take a leave of absence in accordance with university policy. Scholarship benefits are suspended for the period of leave of absence.

The Awardee must be willing to engage in the years to come, and subject to their availability, with fellow Alumni, as well as the activities of the Foundation and the Order of Australia Association.

As a condition of the Scholarship, the Awardee is expected to attend a Round Table Conference with other Awardees, to be held at either Government House, Yarralumla, in Canberra, or Admiralty House in Sydney, with associated press coverage. The conference is expected to be held in October 2026.

Travel arrangements will be made for the Awardee to attend the Gala Awards Ceremony and Dinner associated with the Order of Australia Association’s Annual Conference Dinner, where Awardees are presented with their Certificate by the Governor-General or their representative. The Awardee’s immediate family, the Scholarship Donor, the Mentor and a University representative will also be invited to attend. The Gala Awards Ceremony and Dinner will be held in Adelaide on Saturday 15 May 2027.

Transportation and accommodation for the Round Table Conference and the Gala Awards Ceremony and Dinner will be covered by the Order of Australia Association Foundation as part of the scholarship package.

Applications must be completed and submitted by the closing date.

Offers are made via email.

Applicants will be shortlisted and be required to provide additional statements addressing the following;

• how have they demonstrated qualities of leadership, initiative and involvement in community affairs, both at University and during their high school years?
• how do they intend to use their degree and/or community involvement to benefit Australia in the future?
• how would they benefit from financial assistance towards the completion of their course of study?
• how would they benefit from a mentor who has received an award within the Order of Australia?
• are they willing to attend an in-person interview, accept the terms and conditions, including their willingness to engage with OAAF appointed mentor, promotion of award, and to attend the award ceremony and associated OAAF engagements?

Candidates will be further shortlisted based on the additional response statements. Those moving on to the next selection phase wil be required to attend an interview, in person, on campus, with a Selection Panel comprised of two Foundation Board representatives, and a minimum of three representatives of the University.

Assistance from the Student Academy of Excellence will be provided for the formulation of the additional statements and interview preparation.

Griffith University reserves the right to withdraw an advertised scholarship at any time.