The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA039
Friday, 22 May 2009
BURSARIES AWARDED TO TEN VICTORIAN TERTIARY STUDENTS
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced ten Victorian students, all children of Vietnam
veterans, would receive up to $9000 each in Australian Government funding to help them complete tertiary
education.
Mr Griffin said the Long Tan Bursary scheme helps the children of Vietnam veterans pursue tertiary education.
”The Long Tan Bursary scheme aims to help dedicated students achieve their long-term study goals by easing
the financial cost of their tertiary study,” Mr Griffin said.
“More than 250 sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans have benefitted from the bursary scheme since it was
introduced in 2000.”
Named after the Battle of Long Tan in which 18 Australians lost their lives, the Bursaries are available for
tertiary students, including mature age students, who have achieved good academic results and have
overcome personal challenges to successfully complete their secondary education.
“These students have proven their determination to pursue their studies and I congratulate them on their
determination and perseverance to succeed in their chosen career paths,” Mr Griffin said.
This year ten* students in Victoria have received bursaries including:
Leah-Naomi Farnham-Quain, Warragul, Bachelor of Arts, Deakin University;
Samuel Goodrich, Berwick, Diploma of Audio Engineering, JMC Academy;
Clark Lavery, Surrey Hills, Bachelor of Information Technology, RMIT University;
David Ludlow, Mount Eliza, Bachelor of Communications, RMIT University;
Miko Morell, Watsonia, Bachelor of Engineering, Melbourne University; and
Rebecca Mountford, Wantirna, Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling), Australian Catholic University.
Mr Griffin said Long Tan Bursaries totalling more than $500,000 would be presented to 56 Australian students
in the coming weeks. The Bursary recognises that children of Vietnam veterans can face health and wellbeing
challenges due to their parent’s service and relieves these students of some financial burden so they can
concentrate on completing their studies successfully.
“The Australian Government is also seeking to lift the aspirations of students who would previously never have
considered university. As well as other reforms to student income support, the 2009-10 Budget introduced two
new scholarships. The scholarships provide students receiving financial assistance under the Veterans’
Children Education Scheme and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training
Scheme a start-up scholarship of $2254 a year and a relocation scholarship, worth $4000 in the first year and
$1000 each year after, for those students who have to move away from home to study,” Mr Griffin said.
For more information on the Long Tan Bursary go to Long Tan Bursary Information Page or for more
information on student income support reforms, go to 2009–10 Commonwealth Budget - Home.
Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109
Editors note: *Four of the Long Tan Bursary recipients have asked to remain anonymous.
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week
on 1800 011 046.To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at
minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
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