First Nations opportunities

One Basin CRC First Nations Honours Scholarship

Are you a First Nations student who is interested in contributing to a more productive, sustainable and resilient Murray-Darling Basin?

The One Basin CRC First Nations Honours Scholarship is designed for Indigenous Australian students intending to undertake an honours degree related to understanding country and relationships to the water, agriculture, and environmental sectors with a view to transition to a PhD. The One Basin Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has made an important commitment to working respectfully with First Nations across the Murray-Darling Basin to support greater access to water and land for cultural, social and spiritual connection, and provide greater opportunities for economic development, career development, employment, education and training. As partners in the CRC, First Nations people have the opportunity to shape research agendas and be active participants in research. This includes opportunities for skills development and passing of knowledge to younger generations.

About the Scholarship

The One Basin CRC in collaboration with our University Partners is offering scholarships for First Nations undergraduate students enrolled in an honours degree with the possibility of continuing on into a PhD. There are a limited number of scholarships available each year from 2025 to 2027.

Students in the third year of an undergraduate degree, and who are undertaking a research-focused subject worth at least 16 points, may also be considered for early entry into the program on a case-by-case basis. These students must be in their final year of undergraduate study and demonstrate a strong desire to move into an honours/PhD program upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

As part of the Scholarship, the One Basin CRC will:

• provide a $10,000 stipend which is to be paid in two instalments of $5,000 on the census date in each semester.
• fund travel to a One Basin CRC research hub and participation in the CRC’s annual conference.
• facilitate opportunities to involve CRC partner organisations in research conducted during the honours program, and for paid work placements or internships.
• depending on successful completion of the Honours Degree and associated Grade Point Average (GPA), scholarship recipients are supported to apply for a One Basin CRC PhD scholarship.

As part of the scholarship, the University Partner will:

• arrange a supervisory team that includes a First Nations mentor and an industry advisor.
• assist the student to communicate their research interests and ideas to One Basin CRC industry partners as they carry out a research project that is related to the goal of the CRC “to ensure that Australia’s irrigation regions are the most sustainable, productive and resilient in the world”.
• provide ongoing academic, cultural, and social support through the First Nations support unit.
• assist the student in applying for admission to a PhD program, on successful completion of the Honours Degree, and provided that they meet university requirements.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration for the One Basin CRC First Nations Honours Student an applicant must:

• identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Person
• be enrolled or intend to enrol as a full-time student in an Honours Degree at the Partner University.

Selection criteria

The One Basin CRC will award a Scholarship to applicants who demonstrate through their application and supporting documentation that they have:

• identified an academic supervisor, and a potential First Nations mentor.
• selected a research topic aligned with the CRC Vision, Purpose and Milestones, and which may be connected to existing project areas or areas under development. Examples of possible topics include water resource management, environmental and cultural water, native grains and food and fibre production, regenerative agriculture, digital information tools, climate adaptation, leadership and cultural awareness, community and regional development, data sovereignty, waterway protection and restoration, land care and sustainability.
• a firm commitment to pursue a related PhD.
• strong academic performances as shown by their University transcript
• other relevant achievements or abilities, leadership and community engagement experience.

How to apply

Written applications are now open and are assessed on an ongoing basis. Download the application form here.

Applications must be lodged attention to the Education & Training Manager, One Basin CRC via email educationandtraining@onebasin.com.au

Scholarship conditions

The scholarship can be held concurrently with other undergraduate scholarships, subject to approval from the CRC. The Scholarship may not be deferred during the tenure of the Scholarship unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Payment of the first Scholarship instalment ($5,000) is subject to the One Basin CRC confirming that the research topic aligns adequately with the CRC’s Vision, Purpose and Milestones. Payment of the second instalment ($5,000) is subject to the recipient making satisfactory progress.

One Basin CRC First Nations PhD Scholarship

If a student successfully completes an Honours degree, meets CSU’s admission requirements into a PhD program, and is able to identify a research area that relates to the aims of the One Basin CRC, the CRC will offer them a First Nations PhD scholarship worth $32,960 pa for up to four years (2024-25 value; to be allocated to stipend and operating expenses) which can be received in addition to other scholarships.

The scholarship provides the opportunity for First Nations candidates to be associated with the One Basin CRC regional research hubs while being supported close to their home and community, either by being based in one or more hubs for the majority of their candidature or by engaging in rotations around the One Basin regional research hubs during the course of their PhD[1]. Working across the CRC’s research hubs in Loxton, Mildura, Griffith and Goondiwindi provide First Nations students with hands-on exposure to the diverse needs of the Murray-Darling Basin and its communities. The One Basin PhD program also includes an industry internship of 6-months duration completed as part of the PhD training.

For more information

Contact your University’s First Nations support unit and student advisors

• Daniel Pierce – Education and Training Manager, One Basin CRC (daniel.pierce@onebasin.com.au)
• Troy Meston – First Nations Research Lead, One Basin CRC (troy.meston@onebasin.com.au)

^[1] Subject to further discussion and approval by the One Basin CRC