Professional Placement Equity Grant

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At a glance
  • 7
  • 2 Oct 2023
  • Applications open
  • The current round of applications close on:
    09:00am 8 Nov 2023
  • The next round of applications open on:
    8 Feb 2023
  • Outcome Notice Dates:
    • 15 Mar 2023
    • 19 Apr 2023
    • 24 May 2023
    • 28 Jun 2023
    • 2 Aug 2023
    • 6 Sep 2023
    • 11 Oct 2023
    • 15 Nov 2023
  • Available to:
    Commencing Students; Continuing Students
  • Value: $100 per day of placement to a maximum of $3,000 per session.
  • Duration: one off payment

Provides financial assistance for Workplace Learning (professional placement). The grant is valued depending on the length of compulsory placement (see guidelines). Grants are not intended to provide an alternative to other forms of income and recipients are not to rely on payment occurring prior to attending their placement.


Due to COVID-19 all placements will be confirmed with the relevant Faculty Workplace Learning Officer prior to payment.

Refer to the Student Safety and wellbeing webpage for COVID-19 updates.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for this grant you must be:

  1. studying an undergraduate or postgraduate (including honours) degree as an active student and must have an ongoing subject enrolment;
  2. enrolled in a Charles Sturt University course as a Commonwealth supported student (full fee paying students are not eligible);
  3. enrolled as an internal, mixed mode or online student;
  4. enrolled as a full time or part time student;
  5. a commencing or continuing student, continuing students must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 or higher;
  6. an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, a permanent Australian resident or a student with an Australian permanent or humanitarian visa;
  7. in financial need (see guidelines)
    • in receipt of an eligible means tested Centrelink Benefit
      or
    • able to demonstrate financial hardship.
  8. Please submit your application no more than six weeks prior to the start date of your placement. You can apply for this grant up to 6 months after the start date of your placement
  9. undertaking a subject for which Professional Placement attendance is compulsory and the placement must be a minimum of 28 hours i.e. a minimum of 4 days of compulsory placement
  10. Students can only receive this grant once per session. Therefore, student must not have been in receipt of this grant or any similar scholarship within the same session.
  11. To be eligible for this grant you must be enrolled in a professional placement subject and have met all eligibility criteria by the closing date.
  12. Only include one placement subject in your application for assessment. If you have multiple placements, you can apply multiple times but will only receive the maximum value per session. Preference may be given to students who have not received prior funding for this grant.
  13. Placement must be confirmed either on InPlace or by supplying a Confirmation of Placement form signed by your workplace coordinator.

If you are receiving any other scholarships or grants for the purpose of placement, you may not be eligible to receive this grant.

Guidelines

  1. The Professional Placement Equity Grant (PPEG) will provide financial assistance to students who are attending compulsory placements as part of their degree at Charles Sturt University. The grant will be offered most of the year and placements must be confirmed by Charles Sturt University.
  2. The value of this grant is based on an allocated amount per day with a maximum value of $3,000 or 6 full-time working weeks per session:

    a. $100 is allocated per day of placement regardless of where the placement will be and how far from hometown
    e.g. if the placement goes for two weeks or 10 days than successful students will be allocated $1,000

    b. the maximum value of this scholarship is $3,000 per session.
  3. The grant is payable in cash (EFT) to the personal bank account that you have registered with Charles Sturt University. Payment will be processed within 7 business days of offer acceptance and can be made in advance or retrospectively for the previous session only. If you apply for your placement in advance your application will be processed in the offer round prior to your placement.
  4. In university session address will be used for assessment of placements during session.  Home origin address will be used for assessment of placements out of session.
  5. To be eligible for this grant, applicants must have met all of the eligibility criteria by the closing date. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Grants cannot be deferred.
  6. The University receives a high volume of applications for grants; meeting the eligibility criteria may not guarantee applicants a grant offer.
  7. The University reserves the right to recoup grant payments if your circumstances change and you no longer meet the eligibility criteria.
  8. The Scholarships Office will be responsible for the assessment, allocation and administration of this grant.
  9. To show financial need student must be in receipt of a means tested Centrelink benefit within the last 45 days (see table below for eligible Centrelink benefits) and be able to show a Centrelink Income Statement on application.
  10. If student does not receive a Centrelink benefit then they must supply a Supporting Financial Declaration form and three recent consecutive payslips or last two ATO Notice of Assessment.
    If student is under 22 years of age than they must also supply their parent's last three consecutive payslips or last two ATO Notice of Assessment.
    If student is in a relationship and lives together as a couple either married or de facto then they must also supply their partners last three payslips or last two ATO Notice of Assessment

The following are considered as eligible means tested Centrelink Benefits

ABSTUDY – Secondary/Tertiary

Parenting Payment

Age Pension

Partner Allowance

AUSTUDY

Sickness Allowance

Carer Payment

Special Benefit

Disability Support Pension

Widow Allowance

Farm Household Allowance

Widow B Pension

Job Seeker Payment

Wife Pension

Low Income Health Care Card

Youth Allowance

Newstart Allowance 

Terms and Conditions

By accepting the grant offer you agree to:

  1. fulfil all requirements as set out in these guidelines;
  2. consent to Charles Sturt University accessing your student records for the purposes of assessing and administering the grant;
  3. provide any change of individual circumstances in writing to the Scholarships Office scholarships@csu.edu.au;
  4. provide information and participate in surveys for promotional purposes and review of this grant;
  5. accept the terms and conditions of this grant.

The University reserves the right to undertake audits of individual student’s records to ensure adherence to these guidelines.

Policy

Charles Sturt University will treat any information provided by the applicant within the terms of relevant privacy legislation. See Charles Sturt University’s privacy policy for further information

Due to privacy laws, any discussion of a grant application or recipient will only take place with the grant applicant/recipient.

The information collected will be used by authorised University staff to assess eligibility and administer the scholarship program. The information may also be used for assessment purposes for other scholarships, grants and equity programs across the University. Recipient names and email addresses may be made available to departments within the University for marketing and research purposes. No details will be used externally for any reason without the recipient’s consent. Students should be aware that they provide information of their own free will.

Personal and health information provided by the applicant will not be made available to any person within the University or external organisation for any other purpose without the applicant’s consent, except where it may be a legal requirement of the University to provide information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to submit the PPEG or UDRH Placement form if I have confirmed my placement in InPlace?

No, you do not need to provide a form if your details are correct and confirmed in InPlace.

How long do I have to provide further documents/information if the Scholarship Office contact me and request it?

If your application has been made incomplete and you have been requested to provide additional information or documents you have 48 hours from the date you receive the notification to provide the requested information and resubmit your application.

What if I have another scholarship/grant?

If you are receiving any other scholarship or grant for the purpose of relocating or accommodation you may not be eligible for this scholarship. This will be assessed on a case by case basis upon application.

Can I submit a late application?

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered

How do I know if I'm in financial need?

A person is considered to be in financial need if they are in receipt of an eligible means-tested Centrelink benefit or are in financial hardship. Supporting documentation will be required to demonstrate financial need. Please see guidelines for further information.

Can I save my application and then finish it at a later date?

Yes you can, as long as you log back in and submit your application before the closing date. 

When will I find out if I was successful?

An email notification will be sent by the outcome notice date, as advertised on the website.

If I am successful when and how do I get paid?

Payments will be made by EFT to your nominated bank account.

How do I register my bank details with Charles Sturt?

Register your bank details with Charles Sturt via online administration.

What if my circumstances have changed from what I put on my application form?

You must notify the Charles Sturt Scholarship Office immediately by emailing scholarships@csu.edu.au. Upon receipt of details regarding a change in circumstances, Charles Sturt may reassess your eligibility.

When can I submit my application?

You can apply for your placement in advance if your placement is within the next six weeks. However, your application will awarded in the round closest to your placement starting date. You cannot apply for any previous placements completed.

Will I receive a scholarship/grant if I meet all of the eligibility criteria?

Charles Sturt receives a high volume of applications for scholarships and grants, meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee applicants a scholarship/grant offer.

Can I apply for this grant when I’m on a Leave of Absence?

Grants cannot be deferred. Grant recipients who defer their studies or take a Leave of Absence will have their grant withdrawn and the grant will not be paid. These students are eligible to apply in a future session providing they still meet the eligibility criteria.

Charles Sturt University will terminate your grants offer if:

  • you cease to meet the eligibility criteria;
  • you are guilty of academic misconduct;
  • the grants was awarded on the basis of false or misleading information.

Do I have to tell Centrelink or the Australian Tax Office about my grant?

  • A grant recipient should be aware that payments may be regarded as income by Centrelink or ATO it is the responsibility of the recipient to seek independent advice with respect to implications resulting from receiving this grant.

Definitions

  1. Active Student:  A student who is enrolled in subject/s in the current/commencing session. This excludes students on approved Leave of Absence.
  2. Carer: For Charles Sturt University’s purposes, a carer is defined as a person of any age, who without being paid (excluding Centrelink), cares for another person who needs ongoing support because of a long-term medical condition, a mental illness, a disability, frailty or the need for palliative care. A carer may or may not be a family member and may or may not live with the person. Volunteers under the auspices of a voluntary organisation are not included. Scholarship recipients may be in receipt of a Centrelink Carer Allowance or Carer Payment.
  3. Census Date: The date at which you can withdraw from a subject or course without financial penalty.
  4. Commencing Student: A student enrolled in and undertaking subjects in their first session of study.
  5. Commonwealth Supported Place:  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a subsidised higher education enrolment. The Australian Government subsidises a CSP by paying part of the fees for the place directly to the University.
  6. Commonwealth Supported Student:  A student enrolled in a CSP is referred to as a ‘Commonwealth supported student’. Students only pay the ‘student contribution’ amount, set by the university, for their units of study. (As defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003).
  7. Conditional Offer: An offer of a scholarship which is made based on you continuing to meet the eligibility requirements as at session Census Date.
  8. Continuing Student: A student enrolled in, and undertaking, subjects in their second and subsequent sessions of study.
  9. Domestic Student (Student): Means a student with a permanent home address in Australia who is:
    1. An Australian citizen
    2. A New Zealand citizen
    3. A diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand, a member of the staff of such a representative or the spouse or dependent relative of such a representative; or
    4. A student with an Australian permanent visa.
  10. Financial Need: A person is considered to be in financial need if they are in receipt of an eligible means-tested Centrelink benefit or in financial hardship. Refer to Eligible benefits in these guidelines.
  11. Financial Hardship: A person is considered to be in financial hardship when they find it difficult to provide for themselves, their family or dependents basic necessities such as food, accommodation, clothing, medical treatment and education.
  12. Full Fee paying: If you're a domestic student in a full-fee-paying place, it means your place receives no financial contribution from the government and you are required to pay the full cost of the course.
  13. Full-time: A full-time student is one who is enrolled to undertake an amount of study of at least three quarters (or 75%) of an equivalent full-time study load (EFTSL). At Charles Sturt University, this equates to being enrolled in three or more (8 point) subjects, or 24 subject points or more per session.
  14. Grade Point Average: A grade point is the numerical value assigned to a final grade to allow calculation of a Grade Point Average (GPA). GPA is the average of all final grades obtained by a student for courses within an academic program.
  15. Indigenous: for the purposes of these Guidelines, means a person who is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and is accepted as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he/she lives or has lived.
  16. Integrated Program: Students are co-enrolled and study at both TAFE and Charles Sturt University.  Under this type of arrangement, specific courses are identified and a formal agreement is signed.
  17. Internal Student:  An internal student is a student that is studying the majority of subjects for any given session of the course as an on campus student.  For example, if a student is enrolled in four subjects for a session, then three or more subjects must be studied internally (on campus).  If a student is enrolled in three subjects for a session, then two or more subjects must be studied internally (on campus). The status as an internal student can change for each session of study.
  18. Leave of Absence: Official approval to be absent from your study, whilst still maintaining the status of enrolled student.
  19. Online Student:  A student enrolled in 75% or more of subjects in a given session studying online.
  20. Part-time:  A part-time student is one who is enrolled in one or two (8 point) subjects per session, which equates to 8 or 16 subject points per session.
  21. Postgraduate: A person who has obtained a degree from a university and is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification.
  22. Pro Rata: a proportional distribution of the total amount to ensure equal allocation.
  23. Regional, Remote or Very Remote Area:The Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) is a geographical system developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to classify different living zones in Australia.  Classifications are postcode based and are identified as ‘Remote’, ‘Very Remote’, ‘Major Cities’, ‘Inner Regional’ and ‘Outer Regional’. To find your classification, you can view the following map.
  24. Special Circumstances: Circumstances which are beyond the student’s control and which a reasonable person would consider is not due to the student’s action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the student is not responsible. This situation must be unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
  25. Undergraduate: Undergraduate students who are enrolled and are studying for approved undergraduate qualifications at eligible higher education providers. Approved undergraduate qualifications include Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma and Diploma courses of study. Enabling courses do not qualify.

How to Apply

Forms and Documents

    Download and save any forms you require for your application.

Application

  • Complete an online application form, noting the following:
  • Attach a completed placement form/s signed by your workplace learning officer OR have your placement confirmed in 'InPlace' by your workplace learning officer
  • Attach evidence of being in financial need (as outlined in the eligibility criteria)
  • Applications will be assessed in accordance with the eligibility criteria and supporting documentation.
  • Applications with incorrect or no supporting documentation will be deemed ineligible.
  • You may be assessed as eligible but not receive an offer due to quota restrictions.
  • There are no interviews required.

Outcome

  • All applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application.

Acceptance

  • Successful applicants are required to accept their grant/scholarship offer.
  • Offers not accepted by the offer expiry date will be withdrawn.

Apply online

Applications are OPEN and will close at 09:00am 8 Nov 2023

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