Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES)
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) program has now concluded. We remain committed to supporting prior scholarship recipients as they progress through their educational journeys.
Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES)
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) Program
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) Program
If you have any questions about the Regional Scholarships, call us on 1800 290 979 or email us.
Scholarship Recipient Portal
Welcome back to the portal. Since 2016, the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) program has helped Australians in regional and remote areas access higher education. As a current recipient, you will continue to receive the support you are eligable for in order to complete your studies. While no new rounds are planned, the program’s support for students like you, pursuing qualifications from Certificate IV to PhD level, has been significant and deeply rewarding for us to support.
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) Program now closed
Applications for Round 6 of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) Program have now closed, marking the program’s conclusion.
Over 5000 students received scholarship funding since the program’s first round which commenced in late 2017.
Scholarship recipients received up to $18,000 each (e.g. for a full-time, four-year qualification). Shorter, part-time qualifications were paid on a pro-rata basis. An extra $500 was also available to support an internship.
Please note: Creative Arts Scholarships were available in 2021 only.
For more information, please refer to the Department of Education.
Current scholarship recipients
previous recipient information
Scholarship recipients
Acceptance of scholarship offer
Successful applicants of either the RRES Program and Creative Arts Scholarship are required to enter into a legally binding Scholarship Agreement with QTAC.
If there are unreasonable delays in finalising a Scholarship Agreement, the Scholarship offer may be withdrawn and the Scholarship may be awarded to a different applicant.
Scholarship recipients must provide evidence of enrolment in their Eligible Course of Study, and up to date evidence of financial need, before the first scholarship payment will be paid.
Applicants who applied under Financial Need Category 2 (expecting to receive an eligible Centrelink benefit on commencing their Eligible Course of Study) must provide evidence of applying for an eligible Centrelink benefit in order to accept their offer. No Scholarship payments will be made until the Scholarship Recipient provides evidence of receiving an eligible Centrelink benefit.
Scholarship recipients should not make financial commitments in reliance on being awarded a Scholarship Agreement until a Scholarship Agreement has been executed by QTAC.
The Scholarship Agreement
Standard terms and conditions for the Scholarship Agreement apply and cannot be changed. A schedule may be used to outline the specific requirements of Scholarship Recipients, such as completion of an Eligible Course of Study and a requirement to participate in reporting and evaluation processes.
Scholarship Recipients must continue to demonstrate financial need, by satisfying one of the Financial Need categories for the duration of their scholarship program.
The Scholarship Agreement states the maximum Scholarship amount to be paid and the timeframe over which it will be paid, reflecting the value of study assistance corresponding to the course length and mode of study. The Scholarship Agreement also specifies whether internship payments will apply.
If a successful applicant fails to meet the obligations of the Scholarship Agreement, QTAC may terminate the Scholarship Agreement. The Scholarship Recipient will have to return any unspent Scholarship funds.
Reporting
Scholarship recipients are required to provide the following each semester:
evidence of the Scholarship Recipient’s continued enrolment in their Eligible Course of Study
units completed to date, including academic achievement (for example, number of units passed)
evidence of continued financial need
If a Scholarship Recipient ceases undertaking their Eligible Course of Study, they must notify the Scholarship Support Organisation immediately.
If a Scholarship Recipient ceases receiving, or receives a different Centrelink benefit, they must notify QTAC immediately.
Adequate progress
Scholarship recipients must make adequate progress in their Eligible Course of Study.
Adequate progress in a Scholarship Recipient’s Eligible Course of Study is defined as passing 50 per cent or more of units of study attempted.
QTAC may take remedial action in instances of underperformance, including mediation with the Scholarship Recipient which may include the Eligible Provider or Internship Host Organisation.
Remedial action is considered on a case by case basis and takes into consideration the Scholarship Recipient’s:
study record to date in their Scholarship Program
individual circumstances at the time
actions to remedy their performance.
Internships
Before an Internship can be recognised as part of the Scholarship Recipient’s program, and the $500 payment made, the Scholarship Recipient is required to provide additional information to QTAC.
For students undertaking work integrated learning, this includes information such as the course outline and evidence that the student is enrolled in the corresponding unit.
For students organising their own internship, this includes confirmation from the Internship Host Organisation of the supervisor details, internship learning goals, commencement and end dates, and workplace induction for the Internship placement.
Variations to the Scholarship Agreement
Changes to the Scholarship Agreement can only be made with the approval of QTAC and are only permitted if all eligibility criteria remain satisfied.
Scholarship funding is paid to scholarship recipients by QTAC.
Study assistance payment
Once a Scholarship Agreement has been executed, QTAC will make the first study assistance payment no less than four weeks after the Scholarship Recipient commences study.
Subsequent study assistance payments will be made in equal instalments for the duration of the Scholarship, no less than four weeks after the commencement of each semester and upon receipt of the successful recipient’s evidence of continued enrolment for the upcoming semester, results from the previous semester and evidence of continued financial need.
Internship payment
Scholarship Recipients receive a one-off payment of $500 once the required information has been received, to allow for recognition of the internship as part of the Scholarship Program.
Where the internship is not a pre-existing arrangement through the Scholarship Recipient’s Eligible Course of Study, the Internship Host Organisation also receives a one-off payment of $500 once the recipient starts the internship.
Receipt of other support
Scholarship Recipients are permitted to receive support or financial assistance from other sources while participating in the Program, provided they continue to fulfil the program’s ongoing financial need requirement. This may include, but is not limited to, income from employers, assistance from other Government programs and scholarships from education and training providers.
The exception to this is that Scholarship Recipients of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships or the Creative Arts Scholarship cannot also be in receipt of scholarship funds from the Commonwealth Scholarships Program for South Australia.
Scholarship payments and taxation
Scholarship recipients should note that:
Study assistance provided to full-time students is exempt from income tax as per Section 51.10, 2.1A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth).
Study assistance provided to part-time students is considered assessable income and is not income tax exempt.
Any payment made to the Scholarship Recipient by the Internship Host Organisation is considered assessable income and is not income tax exempt.
Scholarship payments and social security payments
Merit or equity-based scholarships awarded to enable a student to study at an educational institution are treated as exempt income for social security purposes as per Section 8(8) (zjd) of the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth), to the extent that the payment does not exceed the person’s threshold amount for that year. The value of this threshold amount is $7904 in 2017, and is indexed each year.
FAQ
Scholarship FAQ
Previous applicant requirements
previous applicant information
Applicant criteria (no new applications or further rounds anticipated)
How to Apply
How to apply
You will be required to submit documentary evidence of the following:
Australian citizenship, permanent humanitarian visa, or New Zealand citizenship
Residence in regional or remote Australia
Financial need
Notification of application outcomes
You will be advised of the outcomes of your application in writing. If you are unsuccessful, you may not be notified before scholarship agreements have been executed with successful applicants.
If you are unsuccessful, you may ask us for feedback on your application.
If you are unsuccessful for one round, you may submit a new application in a future scholarship round.
Internship applicants
Internships
If you undertake an internship relevant to your eligible course of study, you will receive a once off payment of $500. This applies to both recipients of the RRES Program and Creative Arts Scholarships.
Internships must be undertaken for a minimum of 5 business days.
You must undertake the internship during or after your eligible course of study, and must complete the internship within three months of completing your studies, or of scholarship funding ending (whichever occurs first).
Internships must be undertaken in Australia.
If the Internship is not part of your Eligible Course of Study or arranged by your educational institution:
You will be responsible for finding an Internship Host Organisation and arranging your Internship placement;
the Internship Host Organisation must establish an agreement with us; and
the Internship Host Organisation is able to receive the one-off $500 payment to assist with the costs of administering the Internship; and
Eligible scholarship recipients will receive a one-off payment of $500 payment
Eligible internship payments will be made at the completion of the internship.
If the Scholarship Program includes an Internship in the form of work-integrated learning, such as clinical or practical work placements:
Eligible Scholarship Recipients will be eligible to receive a one-off of $500 payment;
the Internship Host Organisation is not eligible to receive the one-off $500 payment.
Scholarship Recipients applying for an Internship payment will need to provide relevant evidence (such as an Internship Agreement or contract with the host organisation).
Recipients undertaking an apprenticeship are not eligible for an Internship payment.
Selection Criteria
Selection Criteria
Applications for the RRES Program and the Creative Arts Scholarships are assessed on the following selection criteria:
Criterion 1: Financial need
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance
- Austudy
- Carer Payment
- Disability Support Pension
- Low Income Healthcare Card
- Job Seeker Payment
- Parenting Payment Single
- Parenting Payment Partnered
- Special Benefit
- Youth Allowance
- Farm Household Allowance
- Family Tax Benefit A
- A copy of your pay slips for the last eight weeks.
- If applicable, a copy of your partners pay slips for the last eight weeks.
- If you are under 22 you will need to provide a statement confirming whether you meet the definition of dependent or independent. If you are financially supported by your parents or guardians, along with any income you earn, provide evidence of your parents or guardians gross income which includes a copy of their pay slips for the past 8 weeks.
Criterion 2: Capability
- a past educational achievement, and/or
- a work achievement, and/or
- other achievement that helps to demonstrate your ability to undertake your Eligible Course of Study.
Eligibility
Eligibility
You must meet all the eligibility criteria to be considered.
Applicant eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a scholarship applicants must:
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, holder of a permanent humanitarian visa
- Have commenced the first year of their Eligible Course of Study in 2022 or;
- Have commenced the first year of their Eligible Course Study in Semester 1 of 2023 or;
- Be about to commence the first year of their Eligible Course of Study in Semester 2 or Trimester 3 of 2023.
- Have your permanent home address in a regional or remote area as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).
- Must not have relocated to a major city more than 3 months prior to commencing their chosen course of study.
Eligible courses of study
Eligible courses of study are those that meet the requirements below.
Eligible providers
You must propose and undertake your course of study at an eligible provider.
An eligible provider is either a:
- registered training organisation (RTO) registered with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), or in Victoria the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), or in Western Australia the Western Australian Training Accreditation Council (WA TAC), or
- higher education provider registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
The Department of Education advises us of higher education or training providers for which issues of financial viability, quality or unethical behaviour have been identified and may, at its discretion, require that a higher education or training provider not be considered an eligible provider for the purpose of the program.
Accredited courses
The course of study must be accredited, and the eligible provider must be accredited to deliver the qualification.
If you are applying for the Creative Arts Scholarship, the chosen course of study must also fall within the Creative Arts Field of Education (Category 10), Please refer to the Australian Bureau Statistics website for further information.
Level of Study
RRES Program
The course of study must be classified at one of the following Australian Quality Framework (AQF) levels:
- Level 4 – Certificate IV
- Level 5 – Diploma
- Level 6 – Advanced
- Diploma or Associate Degree
- Level 7 – Bachelor Degree
- Level 8 – Bachelor
- Honours Degree,
- Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma
- Level 9 – Master Degree
- Level 10 – Doctoral Degree (PhD).
Please Note: Tertiary Preparation Program and Pathway courses are not considered as eligible courses.
Creative Arts Scholarships
If you are applying for the Creative Arts Scholarship the course of study must be classified at one of the following Australian Quality Framework (AQF) levels:
- Level 7 – Bachelor Degree
- Level 8 – Bachelor Honours Degree
Commencement periods
All new applicants for the RRES Program must have commenced their first year of their study in 2022 or 2023 in order to be considered.
Scholarships cannot be deferred.
Mode of study
You can study on a full-time or part-time basis. A full-time study load is as defined by the eligible provider of the eligible course of study. Part-time scholarships are reduced proportionally per semester. Visit the Benefits page for more information.
You may change from full-time to part-time study, or vice versa.
The mode of study may be face-to-face or online, but must be undertaken in Australia, unless we grant a special exemption (for example, to allow for a student exchange experience).
Study must be delivered in English, unless we grant a special exemption (for example, to allow for a student exchange experience).
Rural Residence Eligibility
For your permanent home address to be considered as being in a regional or remote area, it must be located within a remote geographic region as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) and classified as:
- Remoteness Area 2 (RA2)
- Remoteness Area 3 (RA3)
- Remoteness Area 4 (RA4); or
- Remoteness Area 5 (RA5)
To check if your home address is in an eligible regional or remote area:
- Visit http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/publishing.nsf/Content/locator
- In the “Search the Map” section enter your full permanent home address
- Choose the “ASGS Remoteness Area (2016)” check box under the “Australia Bureau of Statistics remoteness classifications” section.
- Check which classification area your permanent address is located in on the interactive map. (You can zoom in on your location).
- To be eligible for RRESP you must be located within a RA 2 – 5 classification.
If you need assistance with determining your rural classification, please contact us.
Funding
The Scholarship payments will assist the Scholarship Recipient with the financial costs of attending their institution and undertaking their Eligible Course of Study
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program and Creative Arts Scholarships provide:
- funding up to $18,000, based on course length and type of study or training
- a further $500 to support an Internship
The tables below outline the different levels of scholarship payments by mode of study:
Full-time study
| 6 months | $2,250 | $500 | $500 | $2,750 |
| 1 year | $4,500 | $500 | $500 | $5,000 |
| 2 years | $9,000 | $500 | $500 | $9,500 |
| 3 years | $13,500 | $500 | $500 | $14,000 |
| 4 years | $18,000 | $500 | $500 | $18,500 |
Note: The above amounts are represented as gross figures.
Part-time study
| 1 year | $2,250 | $500 | $500 | $2,750 |
| 2 years | $4,500 | $500 | $500 | $5,000 |
| 3 years | $6,750 | $500 | $500 | $7,250 |
| 4 years | $9,000 | $500 | $500 | $9,500 |
| 5 years | $11,250 | $500 | $500 | $11,750 |
| 6 years | $13,500 | $500 | $500 | $14,000 |
| 7 years | $15,750 | $500 | $500 | $16,250 |
| 8 years | $18,000 | $500 | $500 | $18,500 |
Note: The above amounts are represented as gross figures.
Contact us
If you are interested in talking to us about your Scholarship, contact us
Call: 1800 290 979
Or use our contact page to email us.
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