Indigenous students grants program

Indigenous students from across the Wet Tropics region can apply for a grant to help with studies and future employment opportunities in environmental and agricultural fields.

Terrain NRM’s Natural Capital Fund Indigenous Education Bursary Program is open to students doing university or TAFE courses focused on the environment, agriculture, natural resource management, conservation or sustainable development.

Ty’a Dynevor and Kayoko Yamashita received $3000 grants through the fund last year.

“I’d gone from working full-time on Thursday Island to being a full-time student as a single parent in Cairns so getting one of these grants meant a lot,’’ Kayoko says.  “I could buy the equipment I needed for my practicals. It felt like it took financial pressures off my shoulders.”

Kayoko is in her second year of Environmental Management and Science at James Cook University.

“Never give up – just go for it”

Another of the university’s students, Ty’a (pictured) is in her third year of a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Zoology and Ecology.

She has this advice for others: “My Dad’s motto was ‘Never give up. Just go for it’. If you are experiencing financial stress and difficulties and you need an extra bit of money to support yourself in your studies, this is a great bursary fund and opportunity for you. I’ve also appreciated how Terrain keeps in touch with me for potential future opportunities, like internships and workshops in the region.”

Terrain NRM’s Natural Capital Fund Chair Pete Faulkner said the bursary program, now in  third year, is all about encouraging more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to become future leaders in natural resource management.