We’re thrilled to announce the four recipients of our inaugural CUC Ovens Murray Bursaries. From an impressive 61 applications, our independent assessment panel had the challenging task of selecting four exceptional students who demonstrated clear academic goals, genuine need and inspiring determination.

Meet Our Recipients

“This bursary will help ease the financial pressure of my final year, allowing me to focus fully on completing my accounting degree and beginning a CPA qualification,” Jessica said. “CUC has consistently supported me throughout this journey, providing a welcoming, professional environment that has made higher education achievable as a single mother in a regional community.”

The bursary has helped me to secure reliable technology needed for my upcoming placements,” Tess said. “Studying online can be lonely, but the CUC makes study life feel real and the community here is supportive and is great for keeping me accountable and on track to graduate.”

“This bursary will assist with travel and accommodation costs for my frequent intensive classes and help me upgrade my laptop for study,” Bianca said.

“CUC Ovens Murray has supported me by giving me a consistent and supportive place to study, helping me stay motivated and on track with my degree while living regionally.”

“This bursary takes the financial weight off juggling shifts around a full-time medical degree, frees me up to attend networking events in Melbourne that I’d otherwise skip and gets me a step closer to finishing my degree so I can give back to my community,” Mikael said.

“CUC has been a huge part of that journey, which is actually the first proper study space I’ve had in all my years of study, with quiet breakout rooms, plenty of space for group sessions to support learning, alongside staff who go further than they need to from academic writing to supporting our wellbeing with a simple check in each time I am there.”

Each recipient will receive $2500 to support their studies, whether that’s covering placement costs, textbooks and equipment, travel expenses or other barriers they’re facing in their educational journey.

An inspiring response

We were blown away by the response to this initiative. Receiving 61 applications – more than double what we expected – showed us the ambition and determination in our community. So many students are pursuing their dreams through higher education, often while balancing work, family and other responsibilities.

Our recipients represent the diversity of CUC students, including both mature age students and recent school leavers, students studying full time and part time and students who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. What they all share is a clear vision for their future and the determination to achieve their goals.

What we learned

The applications revealed both the challenges and the remarkable resilience of regional students. Many highlighted the financial burden of unpaid placements and the cost of travel to intensive classes – challenges unique to studying in regional areas with limited public transport.

The overwhelming response has shown us there’s a real need for this kind of support in our community. We’re grateful to Gentari Australia for making these bursaries possible and we hope to run the program again in the future.

Thank you to our independent assessment panel for their dedication in reading and carefully considering all the applications. With so many worthy candidates, the panel discussed each award in depth, conscious of the meaningful difference these bursaries will make.

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to apply for the bursary. The assessment panel was overwhelmed by the strength of the applications and impressed by the effort that people put in. Whether you received a bursary this time or not, we appreciate celebrate your commitment to education and hope to continue supporting students in this way in the future.