2023 ACEN Student Scholarships
A small number of scholarships of $1,500 provide financial support for students undertaking a WIL placement in Australia as part of their 2023/2024 university studies.
2023 applications will open on 6 March 2023 for placements that occur between 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024.
Criteria for applicants
Scholarships are open to students who:
- Are from institutions with ACEN Full Institutional Membership.
- Are based in an RA1-RA2 location and will undertake a WIL placement in an RA3-RA5 location (With the requirement that you are travelling more than 60 km) OR Are based in an RA3-RA5 location and will undertake a WIL placement in an RA1-RA2 location (With the requirement that you are travelling more than 60 km). Read our guide on How to use the Remote Access Locator.
- Students can be domestic or international.
- Genuine relocation is required.
- 3 weeks duration minimum and occur between 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024
- Placement must be full time.
Finding a Placement
ACEN supports Student Scholarships however the Network does not assist students to secure placement opportunities. Please contact your institution for assistance finding a placement.
Submission process
Applications Open: 6 March 2023
Applications Close: 12 May 2023
- Students complete an online application form. Application form will be made available on 6 March 2023.
- All applicants must submit a 500-word synopsis which addresses the following specific criteria as part of the online application form:
- Evidence of reflection on work-based context and skill development
- How the WIL placement will support and enhance development of employability
- Highlight the focus of personal skill development during placement
- Evidence of clear and concise communication skills.
- Applicants will also be required to submit the following as part of the online application form:
- A copy of their most recent academic transcript.
- A written statement from an institutional representative supporting the application.
- Evidence that the WIL placement is a requirement of the degree.
Terms and Conditions
Scholarship recipients must be willing to:
- Upon completion of the placement the recipient shall provide a reflection of the WIL experience to ACEN. The reflection can be presented in video (2 mins) or written (approximately 300 words) format, include images of you in your placement setting and address the following criteria:
- Identify personal growth and skill development as a result of the WIL placement
- How your placement has supported career aspirations or increased the likelihood of working in or returning to employment in a rural area post-graduation
- Discuss how this scholarship positively impacted your rural experience
- Your reflection and images will be shared on the ACEN website as per the scholarship terms. Any questions associated with the reflection please contact admin@acen.edu.au
- Scholarship recipients will be requested to mentor a future student scholarship awardee
- Provide student voice to ACEN activities through engagement with the Student Scholarship and Mentoring Program Committee. This may take the form of providing a student perspective on panels and initiatives.
- Entries that fail to meet all the eligibility criteria will be rejected.
- Judges will make their decision in line with the eligibility criteria. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence over the results will be entered into.
- ACEN may use edited quotations and versions of Scholarship recipients’ reflections to encourage and publicise ACEN Scholarships.
Marking Rubric
Marking rubric for the 500 work synopsis:
- Evidence of reflective practice in a work-based context and the value of reflection in skill development
- How the WIL placement will support and enhance development of your employability skills
- Highlight the focus of personal skill development during placement for you
- Evidence of clear and concise communication skills in your response.
| Levels of Attainment | |||||
| Assessment Attributes | Poor (0) | Good (1) | Excellent (2) | Advanced (3) | |
| Evidence of reflective practice in a work-based context and the value of reflection in skill development. | Limited evidence of reflective practice, no demonstrated understanding of the value of reflection as it contributes to skill development. Reflection unrelated to a work-based context and skill development and does not move beyond a description of the experience. | Some evidence of reflective practice and a basic recognition of the value of reflection in a work-based context. Little attempt at making connections between experience and growth. | Meaningful reflection experience and relationship to skill development. Reflection demonstrates analysis but lacks depth. Some attempt at self-critique. | Meaningful reflection with clear connections to personal and professional growth. Reflection demonstrates ability to question biases, preconceptions and assumptions. | |
| How the WIL placement will support and enhance development of your employability skills and career goals. | No mention of employability skills or career goals and little discussion of how these may be developed in the WIL placement. | Some employability skills and career goals mentioned however with limited supporting statements or examples of how the WIL placement will or may develop stated employability skills/career goals. Some inconsistency or undeveloped examples. | A comprehensive list of employability skills mentioned with a clear connection between the WIL placement, the development of employability skills, and attainment of career goals. | Strong list of employability skills with three or more specific examples that demonstrate the links between the enhancement of skills during the WIL placement and how these relate to career aspirations. | |
| Highlight the focus of personal skill development during placement for you. | Focus of personal skill development missing. No personal goals evident. | Briefly stated personal focus with little exploration or not clearly identified as being a personal focus. | Excellent written statement highlighting personal focus of skill development. | Inspirational personal focus of skill development written with two or more clearly identified goals to focus on in relation to skill development. | |
| Evidence of clear and concise communication skills in your response. | Poor writing, many spelling or grammar mistakes. Reflection and writing does not flow well. No consideration given to word limit. | All questions answered with goals communicated clearly, mostly consistently with minor spelling or grammar errors. Approaches word limit. | No errors, consistent in depth writing clearly communicating all responses and good layout with accurate use of writing conventions, within 10% of the word limit (over or under). | All answers written in depth, clearly linked with an excellent structure that flows exceptionally well. No grammatical or spelling errors and a sequenced and coherent account. Accurate use of writing conventions and layout. Within 10% of the word limit (over or under). | |
Key Dates 2023
| Date | Activity |
| 6 March 2023 | Applications Open |
| 12 May 2023 | Applications Close |
| 16 June 2023 | Successful applicants notified |
Queries
For any queries, please contact admin@acen.edu.au