The Australian Film Television and Radio School and ABC Radio have announced a new scholarship of $14,500 to be awarded each year for the next three years to develop Australian radio talent, with a focus on diversity.
The scholarship has been adapted from an existing, long-standing bequest to AFTRS from the late ABC broadcaster Selwyn Speight, who was the first executive producer of flagship Radio Current Affairs program AM.
The scholarship will be awarded to an applicant who is accepted into AFTRS’ prestigious Graduate Diploma in Radio and is from an Indigenous or culturally and linguistically diverse background.
The successful applicant will also be provided with an internship at the ABC one day per week, and will be offered a 12 month employment contract upon graduation, as long as all performance measures are met.
The purpose of this scholarship is to expand and enrich AFTRS’ student community by recognising and supporting an outstanding Radio student who has been selected on the basis of merit from eligible students from diverse cultural, ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds, or from otherwise underrepresented minority groups.
Michael Mason, the ABC’s Director of Radio, said “We’re very pleased to be able to work with AFTRS to offer this terrific opportunity. It’s a genuine pathway to an exciting career in radio.”
AFTRS Program Leader Radio Lisa Sweeney said: “AFTRS greatly values the opportunity to collaborate in this way with the ABC for this scholarship. AFTRS and the ABC are both committed to encouraging the development of diverse Australian stories and this monetary support for a talented student will assist both organisations to achieve much-needed diversity.”
Applications for the AFTRS Graduate Diploma of Radio are open for a second round from December 1 to January 15, 2017.
Please apply for this scholarship through the dedicated portal.
Students offered a place through this scholarship will be required to study full time at the AFTRS Sydney campus, with a commencement date of Monday, February 27, 2017.
The scholarship will support living expenses while studying, FEE Help is also available to cover course fees.