CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship 2026

The CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship will provide recognition and educational expenses financial assistance to a graduating Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) student commencing a Bachelor degree.

Jenny Simpson was an extraordinary person. She was a passionate teacher, a transformative educator, a vigorous researcher, and for her students, she was an inspiration. She gave of herself to ensure that students, who previously may not have had the opportunity to achieve a tertiary education, were able to do so. She was responsible for enabling second-chance adult learners to effect a change in their lives, feel empowered and to be awakened to their true abilities.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 26, 2026
• Value$5,000
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorCentral Queensland University
• City to studyQueensland
• School to studyCentral Queensland University
• Eligible CountryAustralia , New Zealand

Requirements

To be eligible to receive the CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed at least two units of the Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) course;
• Be commencing or have commenced a Bachelor degree in 2026;
• Be enrolled with a minimum term study load of 12 credit points or more at Census date of Term 1, 2026*;
• Be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, holder of a Humanitarian Visa or New Zealand Citizen with a permanent home address in Australia;
• Not currently in receipt of a CQUniversity Donor-Funded Scholarship.

*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 Jenny Simpson Memorial 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.  

Assessment Process

• A selection panel, consisting of representatives from CQUniversity will be formed to determine the successful applicant. The selection process may involve an interview (either face-to-face or online).
• Scholarships at CQUniversity are highly competitive. All applications are ranked based on how well applicants address the selection criteria, and in comparison, to other applicants. Being eligible or being a recipient in the past is no guarantee of having a successful application. A scholarship will only be offered where there is an applicant of sufficient merit.
• The Student Scholarships team are unable to provide updates to students on the progress of their individual application until all assessments are completed.
• Students will be notified of the outcome of their application via their student email account only. Decisions are final.

Application Documents

Students may be required to provide further documentation to support their application. This can include the following:

• Documentation demonstrating academic achievements or unofficial transcript.
• Documentation demonstrating community involvement, exemplary work or demonstration of leadership.
• Resume.

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

• Term 1, 2026 Donor-Funded Scholarships will be offered through a personalised targeted application process. Students identified as meeting eligibility criteria will receive an email with further information on 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 check the Scholarship webpage.