Moree Plains Shire Council Scholarship

USQ will offer a scholarship to a student commencing a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) full-time at USQ Toowoomba in 2009.

The Shire of Moree Plains is the most productive shire in Australia. It is located in the fertile Gwydir Valley and Barwon/McIntyre River Valley, in North-West NSW. It is a progressive, dynamic community, boasting strong agricultural industries in cotton, grain and oilseeds. The Mediterranean-style climate is highly adaptable to alternative farming enterprises, including olive plantations and one of the largest pecan nut orchards in the world. There are extensive manufacturing and support industries, and well-developed art, cultural, educational, sport, recreational and social opportunities. 

As one of 152 local government regions, the Moree Plains Shire lies in the Western Plains Region of New South Wales. The major town in the local government area is Moree (29.48°S, 149.84°E) approximately 650 kilometres North-North West of Sydney, on the Gwydir and Mehi Rivers. The township of Moree was established in 1862 and it has grown to service one of the largest local government areas of New South Wales. The Shire has its northern boundary on the New South Wales-Queensland border and has a total area of 17,852 square kilometres.  An extensive road network is necessary to service such a large region. Within the Shire boundaries are 272 kilometres of State roads, 208 kilometres of regional roads and 2,690 kilometres of urban and rural roads. Less than 19% of urban and rural roads are sealed. Moree Plains Shire Council is a Contractor for the RTA’s Single Invitation Maintenance Contract (SIMC), where we maintain National and State Highways for the RTA.

Scholarship Value

The scholarship has a maximum value of $40,000.  The recipient will receive $10,000 each year for the duration of their Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree. This will be paid in a stipend of $5,000 for Semester One and $5,000 for Semester Two each year.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• be citizens of Australia or have permanent resident status
• have an affinity with Moree Plains Shire Council or regional area adjoining (Gwydir Shire, Narrabri Shire, Walgett Shire and Goondiwindi Regional Council)
• be commencing a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at USQ Toowoomba, full time, on-campus, in Semester One 2009.

Conditions

• The scholarship will be forfeited if:
  • the recipient changes their mode of study from on-campus study to external study or from full-time to part-time study (except where the recipient obtains approval to complete their final year part time while working for MPSC)
  • the recipient changes their program of study to a degree program offered by another faculty at USQ
  • the recipient cancels their enrolment in the program
  • the recipient fails to maintain a grade point average of 5 each semester.
• The scholarship will be paid directly to the recipient by electronic funds transfer (EFT) as a stipend of $5,000 after the last date to drop Semester One courses, and $5,000 after the last date to drop Semester Two courses each year.

Additional Information

The option will be made available for the recipient to complete the last year of the degree part-time externally over two years, while also working for MPSC. The scholarship will reduce to $5,000 per part time year, while the recipient is employed at MPSC. For any promotion or attending of vocational work at MPSC, the recipient will be reimbursed for travel and accommodation expenses related to the fulfilment of duties.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• have a high level of achievement in Year 12 or other post-secondary studies, as applicable
• display strong desire to work in Local Government in a regional context
• be willing to participate in two weeks of vocational work per year (as mutually agreed upon between MPSC and recipient)
• participate in promotion of engineering in local government and MPSC events (as mutually agreed-upon between MPSC and recipient)
• provide a 500 word statement as to why they would like to work in local government and how the scholarship will assist with this desire.

Applications

Complete the USQ Scholarship Application Form 2009 (PDF 122 KB) and forward it to the Scholarships Officer, Student Services, USQ, Toowoomba QLD 4350. Applicants completing their year 12 studies in 2008 must also provide a Statement of Support (PDF 262 KB).

Applications close Friday 31 October 2008.