CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship

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 2025;
• Be enrolled at Census date of Term 1, 2025;
• Be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or holder of a Humanitarian Visa with a permanent home address in Australia;
• Not currently in receipt of a CQUniversity Scholarship/Sponsorship or a Scholarship/Sponsorship where payments are administered by CQUniversity.

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

• 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.

Expectations of recipients

As a scholarship recipient, you may be asked to participate in a feedback survey. You may also be approached to assist with promoting CQUniversity’s Scholarships program by sharing your experiences as a recipient through testimonials, media or invitations to attend events such as Orientation or Open Days. If you do not wish to be publicly recognised or be involved in the above initiatives, please advise the Philanthropy team via ourpartners@cqu.edu.au immediately following acceptance.

CQUniversity has a range of support services located on our website Student Support Services and Financial Preparedness.

Sharing Details with the Donor of your Scholarship

Personal information is collected, stored, used, and disclosed by CQUniversity to process your scholarship. As funds for your scholarship have been generously donated, the University is required to share your name, course/study area and ongoing eligibility (including academic performance) with the donor of your scholarship. The University may also share your student email address and your nominated phone number, if requested by your scholarship donor, for the purpose of enabling their representatives to contact you regarding your scholarship. Donors may wish to celebrate their recipients, however if you do not wish for your donor or the University to promote your name publicly, this can be arranged by contacting the Philanthropy team via ourpartners@cqu.edu.au.

Information collected can be disclosed without consent when required by law. Any other provision of personal information will be authorised in accordance with the University’s Privacy Policy and Procedure, and in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld), and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Visit our privacy webpage for more information.

Thanking your Donor

Many of our scholarships are made possible by generous donations from community partners who are committed to supporting CQUniversity students to reach their academic goals. Our donors are always keen to hear how their support is making a difference. You are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of thanks (Word/PDF) or short video to ourpartners@cqu.edu.au to express your appreciation. To help you get started, we recommend providing a brief overview of who you are, what you are studying and your career aspirations, as well as some insight into how your scholarship will benefit you.

Payment of scholarship

The successful applicant is required to enter their current financial institution details (banking details) into MyCQU (refer to instructions) for payment to occur. This must be done prior to Census date to avoid delays.

Payment of $2,000 will be made to the successful recipient by week 6 of term following post Census date eligibility checks.

Payments will be credited electronically to the successful applicant’s nominated bank account. Requests for an early payment will not be considered.

*Disclaimer - 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.

To apply for a CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship:

Complete a Donor-Funded Scholarship Online Application Form, ensuring all supporting documentation is completed and attached as outlined here:

• For Current students (applicants who already have a Student ID number) apply through MyCQU.
• For Future students (applicants who have applied or are intending to apply to study at CQUniversity but have not yet received or accepted an offer) apply now.

Applicants are required to provide a 500-word personal statement addressing the following question:

How would a CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship assist with your studies?

Complete applications must be received by 10 am AEST on the closing date.

A selection panel, consisting of representatives from the CQUniversity STEPS team will be formed to determine the successful applicant.

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.

Jenny Simpson was an extraordinary person. She was a passionate teacher, a transformative educator, a vigorous research, 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.

Jenny Simpson dedicated 15 years of her life to providing 1,000 CQUniversity students with the opportunity to achieve the necessary requirements to equip them with the skills and confidence to embark on a tertiary education. She lived by the quote: “I think; therefore I am. I imagine: therefore, I can be more”, a value that she instilled in all her students.

Sadly, on Saturday 11 October 2008, after a battle with cancer, Jenny passed away. The CQUniCares Jenny Simpson Memorial Scholarship was established in her memory, to encourage STEPS students to pursue an Undergraduate degree at CQUniversity. Today, this scholarship is made possible through generous donations made by friends and colleagues of the late, Jenny Simpson.