Indigenous Scholarship Scheme

Purpose of the Indigenous Scholarship Scheme

The ADAS Indigenous Scholarship Scheme aims to reduce financial and other barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika learners to start or further their careers in the hyperbaric industry, by offering financial and other supports for successful applicants to undertake occupational diver training and/or associated courses, delivered by ADAS Accredited Training Establishments (ATEs) in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This webpage provides information on the scholarship scheme including entry requirements, document templates and application forms. Applications can be submitted digitally via the form on this webpage, or by post. There are also provisions for completing part of your application, including references, through an interview (yarning) process if you or your referee wish to.

Read on to find out more about the scholarship scheme and entry requirements, and access the templates and forms required to submit your application.

Guiding Principles

Scholarships under this scheme are guided by the following principles:

  • Equity: Prioritising applicants experiencing financial hardship, educational disadvantage, or other barriers to participation.
  • Cultural safety and respect: Recognising Indigenous knowledges, cultures, languages, and community obligations.
  • Transparency: Clear criteria, published processes, and documented decisions.
  • Partnership: Engaging with Indigenous communities, Elders, and other advisory groups where appropriate.

Scholarship types

Two scholarship types, or Streams, can be awarded under this scheme:

New entrants (Stream 1)

  • Target group: Indigenous people without any prior employment in the hyperbaric industry.
  • Inclusion: Occupational diver training (Part 1 and Part 2), and pre-requisites such as Open Water ticket, dive medical fees, First aid and other items to be agreed upon.
  • Intended outcomes: Successful course completions, employment outcomes.
  • Number of scholarships available per year: 1
  • Maximum value per scholarship: $16,000

Career advancement (Stream 2)

  • Target group: Indigenous people already employed in the hyperbaric industry, seeking support to access further training and advance their career.
  • Inclusion: Occupational diver training (Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4), upgrade of restricted tickets, Diver Medical Technician, Supervisor courses or other training as agreed.
  • Intended outcomes: Successful course completions, employment outcomes.
  • Number of scholarships available per year: 3
  • Maximum value: $10,000

Lean more about the different levels and types of training available through ADAS Accredited Training Establishments on the Training Courses page

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be eligible to enrol into an ADAS course (be aged over 18 years old, meet medical fitness to undertake diving requirements and other course pre-requisites), and
  • To undertake training in Australia, be an Australian citizen (or permanent resident) who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; or
  • To undertake training in New Zealand, be a New Zealand citizen (or permanent resident) who identifies as Māori and/or Pasifika.

Applicants to the Career advancement stream who wish to undertake Closed Bell diver training (only available at Commercial Dive Academy in Tasmania, Australia) will be considered from both Australia and New Zealand.

Applicants are asked to provide culturally appropriate evidence of their Indigenous identity, which is explained further below.

To find out more about general eligibility requirements for ADAS courses, please see our Frequently Asked Questions and visit the Training Courses pages and select the course/s you wish to undertake to view the entry requirements.

Exclusions to the scholarship scheme

Current members of the Australian and New Zealand Defence forces (Navy, Army, Air Force) and Police forces are not eligible for this scholarship scheme. This is due to those Defence and law enforcement organisations funding their own training needs without the need for candidates to mobilise funds themselves.

Culturally appropriate evidence of Indigenous identity

This evidence will be uploaded to your application form, or provided as hard copies if your application is submitted by post. You can download and use the templates below to complete this requirement, or the documentation can be from the organisations or individuals who are providing this evidence for you. Click on the links below to view and download the document templates.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

To meet the eligibility criteria, you must self-identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and provide:

  • Confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Heritage (COA) from a recognised organisation

Confirmation of Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander descent (COA) must include the common seal and be signed by the chairperson of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Council, or an incorporated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation, in whose area the person lives or has previously lived.

Template

If you are unable to gain a COA, please contact the Indigenous Diving Careers Advisory Group for advice through our Contact form

For Māori and Pasifika people

To meet the eligibility criteria, you must self-identify as Māori and/or Pasifika, and provide:

Māori applicants, one of the following:

  • a letter of support from a Kaumātua endorsing your whakapapa; or
  • a letter from your iwi confirming your iwi/Hapū registration; or
  • confirmation through a community group, or other provider-recognised process, where appropriate

Pasifika applicants, one of the following:

  • a letter from a Pacific Educational Institution, faculty, school, department or government body that you are recognised as a Pacific person; or
  • a letter of recognition from an Indigenous/Pacific Community Group, Pacific cultural leader or church minister

Templates

Applicant statement

Write a statement about why you are applying for this scholarship, and what you hope to achieve if you are successful. Your statement should be 300–500 words long and address the following points:

  • Your background and connection to community
  • Financial or other barriers to your training goals
  • How the scholarship will support your training and future career goals in the hyperbaric industry
  • Please include the type or level of training you wish to undertake using the scholarship.

You can use the template below to complete your statement digitally (as a Word document), or it can be printed out and completed in by hand. Once completed, the statement should be uploaded to your application form, or posted with your other documents. If you wish to respond to these points in a yarning interview instead of in writing, please indicate on your application form and we will contact you to arrange this.

Character reference

Provide a character reference from someone who knows you well and supports your application for the ADAS Indigenous Scholarship Scheme. Suitable referees include employers, teachers and senior community members. A character reference cannot be provided by your family members or close friends. Please note, the character reference is different to a letter of support showing evidence of Indigenous identity. The character reference is intended to demonstrate your suitability to undertake this scholarship.

Referees can use the template below to complete your character reference, or provide a handwritten statement, with their name and contact details, addressing the following points:

  • How long have you known the applicant?
  • How do you know them? For example are they now, or have they been your student, employee, colleague, volunteer or a member of your community?
  • What is your opinion of their character, their potential and suitability to complete the scholarship scheme, and to pursue their training and career goals in the hyperbaric industry?

If your referee wishes to respond to these points in a yarning interview instead of in writing, please indicate on your application form and we will contact you to arrange this.

Please note, ADAS or their representatives will contact character reference providers of shortlisted applicants.

Application forms

You can submit your application using the online application form on this page, or by post.

If submitting by post, please download a hardcopy (PDF file) application form from the link below and post the completed form with your supporting documents to:

ADAS
526 Duncan Road, Dunoon
NSW 2480
Australia

If you have any questions about your application, including on the eligibility criteria, you can call the ADAS office on +61 (02) 6689 5656 or submit an enquiry through our Contact form

Indigenous Scholarship Scheme Online Application Form

Please complete all fields marked (*) below.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Select the stream you wish to apply for*
Are you Indigenous?*
Name*
Address*
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 50 MB.

    Applicant statement

    Upload your applicant statement here. Alternatively, you can type your statement, or copy and paste it from another document, into the text field below. If you wish to give your statement in a yarning interview instead of in writing, please select your preferred contact method below and we will contact you to arrange this.
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 50 MB, Max. files: 5.
      Please contact me to give my statement in an interview

      Character reference

      Upload your character reference here. If your referee wishes to respond in a yarning interview instead of in writing, select the checkbox below and we will contact you to arrange this.
      Drop files here or
      Max. file size: 50 MB.
        My referee wishes to provide a reference through an interview

        Checklist - ensure your application includes the following items*

        Applicant declaration terms
        • To the best of my knowledge, the information I have given in this application is accurate
        • I will maintain satisfactory progress and engagement, as defined by the ATE at which I am training (e.g. minimum attendance, participation and progression)
        • I will comply with relevant policies of the ATE at which I undertake training, including codes of conduct, attendance, and assessment policies
        • I understand that if I accept a scholarship but cannot complete the training covered by the scholarship, or am found Not Yet Competent in the training, I will notify ADAS as soon as possible, and ADAS will consult with the Advisory Group and the training school on next steps, including any potential refunds
        • I understand that if my application is incomplete it will not be considered
        • If I am a successful recipient, I agree that my award and personal details may be used by ADAS to promote the scholarship scheme
        • I am aware that the personal information I provide is used by ADAS to determine scholarship eligibility. I am able to access my information at any time and request that my file be updated if required. I understand I may be contacted during or after the term of my scholarship as part of ADAS’s scholarship verification process
        • I am aware that my personal details will be shared with the ADAS Accredited Training Establishment (ATE) and any other training or service providers where I will conduct training or activities included in the scholarship
        Applicant declaration*

        ADAS Privacy Policy

        All information provided in your scholarship application is handled under the ADAS Privacy Policy. We will take all reasonable precautions to protect your personal information, and your referees information. You can read the full ADAS Privacy Policy here https://adas.org.au/privacy-security/

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