| Applications open | Monday 19 January 2026 |
| Applications close | Sunday 15 March 2026 |
| Total value | $10,000 |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Residency | Permanent Humanitarian visa holder, Australian Permanent Resident, Australian Citizen, New Zealand Citizen |
| What best describes me | New student, Current student |
| Level of study | Undergraduate |
| Degree | Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) (Honours) |
| College | College of Education, Behavioural & Social Science |
| Type of scholarship | Regional, rural, remote, Financial disadvantage |
Karen Thomas was a talented and dedicated primary school librarian‚ classroom teacher and German teacher. She attended school in regional South Australia and completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of South Australia in 1991.
Her career included working in remote South Australia‚ as well as at Hewett Primary School in Gawler. She also held international teaching positions in the United States and Germany. During her time at Frankfurt International School‚ Karen was diagnosed with bowel cancer and returned to Australia in 2013 for treatment. Despite her health challenges‚ she maintained a positive outlook on life and a sense of fun.
As a gifted‚ patient‚ and kind educator‚ she created a sense of wonder and adventure for her students. The proposed grant honours her contributions to the teaching profession and aims to provide encouragement and support for the next generation of childhood educators who need to relocate to Adelaide to pursue their dream of becoming teachers.
The Karen Thomas Memorial Teaching Grant is available to South Australian regional female students relocating to Adelaide to commence a teaching degree in the face of financial need and other challenges.
The grant will assist students from regional locations with the costs of attending university away from home (e.g. relocation expenses‚ accommodation‚ food‚ textbooks‚ laptops‚ materials‚ tuition fees and placement costs)‚ allowing them to devote further time to pursue their academic goals and personal development.
Value:
$10‚000 in two instalments of $5‚000.
Scholarship recipients who are enrolled part-time will receive pro-rata payments (four instalments of $2‚500).
For more information contact:
Student Assist
Email: StudentAssist@study.adelaideuni.edu.au
Her career included working in remote South Australia‚ as well as at Hewett Primary School in Gawler. She also held international teaching positions in the United States and Germany. During her time at Frankfurt International School‚ Karen was diagnosed with bowel cancer and returned to Australia in 2013 for treatment. Despite her health challenges‚ she maintained a positive outlook on life and a sense of fun.
As a gifted‚ patient‚ and kind educator‚ she created a sense of wonder and adventure for her students. The proposed grant honours her contributions to the teaching profession and aims to provide encouragement and support for the next generation of childhood educators who need to relocate to Adelaide to pursue their dream of becoming teachers.
The Karen Thomas Memorial Teaching Grant is available to South Australian regional female students relocating to Adelaide to commence a teaching degree in the face of financial need and other challenges.
The grant will assist students from regional locations with the costs of attending university away from home (e.g. relocation expenses‚ accommodation‚ food‚ textbooks‚ laptops‚ materials‚ tuition fees and placement costs)‚ allowing them to devote further time to pursue their academic goals and personal development.
Value:
$10‚000 in two instalments of $5‚000.
Scholarship recipients who are enrolled part-time will receive pro-rata payments (four instalments of $2‚500).
For more information contact:
Student Assist
Email: StudentAssist@study.adelaideuni.edu.au
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Grant applicants must:• Be female
• Be enrolled full-time or part-time in one of the following programs:
o Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
o Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) (Honours)
• Be an Australian Citizen‚ Permanent Residents of Australia, Holders of Permanent Humanitarian Visa or New Zealand Citizen‚
• Have resided in a South Australian region classified as Inner Regional‚ Outer Regional‚ Remove or Very Remote for at least three years before commencing an eligible teaching program
• Be completing or have completed Year 12 at a South Australian high school classified as Inner Regional‚ Outer Regional‚ Remove or Very Remote in the current or previous year (applicants who have deferred an offer for one year are eligible)
• Be relocating to Adelaide
• Be experiencing financial need
• Provide one written character reference (friends or family members are not suitable referees)
• Provide a written statement addressing the points below.
Selection criteria
Applicants must provide a written statement (maximum 500 words) detailing:• Personal background
• Reasons for studying their Adelaide University Teaching program and future career goals
• How the grant funds would alleviate financial disadvantage and help achieve these goals.
Important information
The grant will be awarded based on the written statement outlining why the applicant would be a worthy recipient.In determining if a student is eligible for the Grant‚ Adelaide University will verify the rural/remote or regional area with the Australian Bureau of Statistic's ASGC Remoteness Areas classification.
Applicants need to demonstrate financial disadvantage to apply for the grant. This can be done by providing evidence of current receipt of a Health Care Card and/or a Centrelink benefit e.g. Austudy‚ Abstudy‚ Youth Allowance‚ etc. Applicants not in receipt of government benefits can complete the Adelaide University Financial Details for Scholarship Eligibility Form‚ to support their application.
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