CQUniCares Downer Indigenous Scholarship 2026

The CQUniCares Downer Indigenous Scholarship will provide recognition and financial assistance to a First Nations undergraduate engineering, business or OHS student.

Downer is a leading provider of services to customers in markets including Engineering, Industrial Services, Rail, Defence, Transport, Utilities, Telecommunications, Renewables and a leading Facilities Management service provider. At Downer, the customers are at the heart of everything they do. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 26, 2026
• Value$8,000
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorCentral Queensland University
• City to studyQueensland
• School to studyCentral Queensland University
• Course to studyAccounting , Business , Construction Management , Engineering , Engineering Technology , Occupational Health and Safety
• Eligible CountryAustralia

Requirements

To be eligible to receive the CQUniCares Downer Indigenous Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled at CQUniversity in Term 1, 2026 in one of the following courses;
  • Associate Degree of Engineering [CC02];
  • Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) [CC62];
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) [CC31];
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Diploma of Professional Practice (Co-op Engineering) [CC32];
  • Bachelor of Engineering Technology [CG21];
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Construction) and Diploma of Construction Management [CL72];
  • Bachelor of Business [CL86];
  • Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Business [CQ91];
  • Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety [CQ26];
• Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and provide Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identity or Cultural Reference documents as detailed under the Supporting Documentation section.
• Be enrolled with a minimum term study load of 12 credit points or more at Census date of Term 1, 2026*;
• Not currently in receipt of a CQUniversity Donor-Funded Scholarship. 

As the Scholarship recipient will be encouraged to complete work experience or vacation employment with Downer in Central Queensland, applicants from the Gladstone or Rockhampton Regions will be preferred.

*If you are unable to enrol into the required credit points due to pre-requisites, unit availability or placement commitments and are therefore prevented from meeting the credit point eligibility criteria of the scholarship, please advise the Student Scholarships team by emailing [email protected] and your eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Selection Process

Applicants will be assessed on the application and a 500-word personal statement addressing the following:

How will a CQUniCares Downer Indigenous Scholarship assist with your studies?

• Tell us about yourself:
  • Name/course/interests.
  • You may wish to also share your current situation, challenges you have experienced or overcome, as well as any examples of success, leadership, community, or volunteering.
• How will a scholarship help you to overcome financial barriers to success?
  • You may wish to further explain your current situation and how a scholarship will assist you in managing general living and study expenses.
• What are your career goals and how will a scholarship assist you in achieving your educational objectives?
  • You may wish to outline your aspirations following graduation, as well as your plans for giving back and supporting our regions.  

Application Documents

This can include the following:

• Documentation demonstrating academic achievements or unofficial transcript.
• Documentation demonstrating community involvement, exemplary work or demonstration of leadership.
• Resume.
• Students will need to supply any or all of the following supporting documents as per the CQUniversity Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Protocol (Section 3.5 Acceptable documentation):
  • Certified copies of the student's Confirmation of Identity documents. A Confirmation of Identity document is usually provided by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community organisation. The documentation names the individual and confirms they are a recognised member of a specified Indigenous Australian community.
  • Certified Native Title documentation issued by a Prescribed Body Corporate which specifically names the student or provides other formal evidence of ancestral or familial ties.
  • In the absence of either of these documents, an original Statutory Declaration signed by the student, accompanied by two supporting documents of verification from a recognised cultural consultant/referee (as defined in the CQUniversity Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Protocol, Section 5.1 Terms and definitions).

All requests for further information to support applications will be sent to the student email account. Failure to supply further information will deem the application incomplete and will not be considered.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• Eligibility assessment for a Donor-Funded Scholarship will be determined based on your information provided in MyCQU and enrolment details. Please ensure your details are up to date in your MyCQU to allow for accurate assessment. 

For more information, kindly visit the Scholarship webpage.