Thursday, 8 March 2018
APPRENTICES experiencing hardship can now apply for a $15,000 Scholarship to help them study with minimal financial stress, with Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today encouraging applicable trainees to seek out the valuable lifeline from the NSW Government.
Mr Marshall said the Bert Evans Scholarship provided $5,000 a year for three years, allowing first-year apprentices to focus on their training.
“Vocational education is a major milestone on the road to financial independence, but money stress during an apprenticeship can make staying on track impossible,” Mr Marshall said.
“The Bert Evans scholarship is a great way for an apprentice or trainee in financial or personal hardship to ensure they have everything necessary to finish training.
“Previous recipients have used the funds to get new tools, cover fuel and car maintenance costs, pay for extra training courses or cover the cost of living.
“As well as hardship, applicants also need to show they have a positive attitude as well as the professional aptitude to successfully complete their training.”
Mr Marshall congratulated this year’s recipients of the Bert Evans Scholarship, commercial cookery apprentice Andrew Marchant and bricklaying apprentice Luke Culley-D’Arcy.
“These young men have shown incredible strength in the face of adversity – and recognise the value of study in achieving personal goals and working towards independence,” Mr Marshall said.
“Andrew suffered from Dyslexia throughout his primary and high school years and was raised by a single working mother of five children.
“After he started working in the hospitality industry, Andrew was offered an apprenticeship and decided to take the plunge – using self-taught strategies so he can read, write and spell.
“His employer has found his standard of cooking and meal presentation exceptional for his level of training and it’s clear Andrew has a promising future in the industry.
Mr Marshall said Certificate III Bricklaying apprentice Luke Culley-D’Arcy had overcome a difficult childhood, which saw him looking after his younger sister at just three years old.
“Luke had to fend for himself from an early age, and faced run-ins with the police after stealing food to help his younger sister survive,” Mr Marshall said.
“After attending a program to help male offenders avoid prison, Luke saw the benefits of pursuing study and full-time work.
“This scholarship will help Luke attain financial independence, providing the knowledge for a productive career in construction while supporting his younger sister.
“I commend Luke and Andrew’s initiative and strongly encourage any local apprentices who meet the criteria to apply now for a scholarship.”
Local apprentices who started their training between 1 March 2017 and 30 May 2018 are eligible to apply for this year’s scholarships.
Applications for this year’s scholarships are open until Thursday, 31 May.
These scholarships were named after the late Bert Evans AO who was a passionate advocate of NSW’s VET sector for more than 30 years.