Details
Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 January 2025 13:57
William Groom scholarship recipient

We are proud to offer the William Groom Centenary of Toowoomba City Scholarship to 18 - 24 year olds, who are commencing their second or third year of a full time UniSQ degree course or TAFE Queensland Darling Downs & South West diploma. We offer this scholarship as a way to acknowledge young students achievements to the local community. The scholarship provides $5,000 in two instalments to the successful applicant following confirmation that the applicant has met the specified criteria at milestone dates. Applications are traditionally called in November each year, with the scholarship winner announced at Toowoomba’s Australia Day ceremony.

The scholarship was established in 2004 to mark the centenary of Toowoomba’s declaration as a city. It honours the many achievements of the municipality’s first mayor William Henry Groom, who served several terms from 1861 before winning seats in the Queensland and Commonwealth Parliaments.

Scholarship eligibility and criteria

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be 18 - 24 year old;
  • be commencing their second or third year of a full-time UniSQ degree course or TAFE Queensland Darling Downs & South West diploma next year;
  • have graduated from a local high school, having attended for two years; and
  • reside in the Toowoomba Regional Council area.

Criteria

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate the following:

  • Sound academic achievement in all subjects attempted in the first and/or second year of their course.
  • A record of community involvement in local organisations that may include sport, arts, cultural and charitable groups.
  • Intention to continue the course full-time next year (e.g. proof of enrolment)

Selection process

Generally, our selection process will include the following steps:

  1. Shortlisting the submitted applications

The selection panel will assess each application to ensure the applicant is eligible and how well the application meets the criteria.

The number of shortlisted applications for interview may vary for each round of the groom scholarship.

  1. Interview

If the application is shortlisted, the applicant may be asked to attend an interview with the selection panel where they will be asked questions on their academic achievements and community involvement.

  1. Outcome

All applicants are notified of the outcome. 

The successful applicant will be asked to participate in promoting the scholarship via a media release and acceptance of the scholarship at an Australia Day awards ceremony.

The $5000 scholarship will be paid to the recipient in half yearly instalments providing the applicant meets the criteria for each milestone. This means, for the second instalment to be paid for a degree level course, the recipient will need to provide evidence of successful completion of four (4) Semester 1 units.  If enrolled in a Trimester pattern, a minimum of four (4) units in Trimester 1 and 2 with the balance of a full time enrolment pattern to be completed in Trimester 3.

If the applicant is enrolled in a TAFE Queensland Darling Downs & South West diploma, the equivalent successful completion depending on the course unit requirements.
 

How to apply

To apply for the scholarship, please submit the form below by the 1st Monday in December.

In the application form below, you will need to:

  • list all the local organisations that you currently belong to and briefly explain what role you play in that organisation; and
  • write a short essay, not more than 500 words, about your involvement with one local community group. Include in the essay your achievements and anything noteworthy of which you are particularly proud.  You should also explain why you enjoy working with this organisation, what it has done for you and what you do in return. 

 

+ - Current recipient - Zachary Vellacott (photo top right of page) Click to collapse
+ - Previous recipients Click to collapse