Students enrolled in VET or Higher Education courses at CDU have responded enthusiastically to a range of scholarships available with over 45 applications.
Applications for the scholarships, offered at CDU by organisations, businesses and all levels of government, closed Friday 10 March.
Certificate IV in Business student Brenda Shields from Alice Springs is thrilled her lecturer Karen Rattray encouraged her to apply for a scholarship.
Brenda is on her way to Darwin, where she'll be officially presented with her $4000 NT Government VET scholarship by the NT Minister for Employment, Education and Training Syd Stirling during an awards ceremony at Parliament House tomorrow.
"The support and encouragement I have been given at CDU has motivated me to continue further studies. The scholarship will assist me financially to gain employment at the end of my study," Brenda said.
Brenda, 55, came out of semi-retirement to initially study a Certificate III in Business, which involved training in one of CDU's three practice firms - Frontier Camel Treks in Alice Springs.
"I find it really interesting and I'm learning new things all of the time. You never stop learning and for myself I feel it's important and there are more opportunities now than ever before."
She is involved with the Irrwanyere Aboriginal Corporation and says she's committed to education, social wellbeing and business enterprises that can be forged with Aboriginal organisations in the southern region of the Territory.
"If there's an opportunity to go into my own Indigenous art and tourism business down in the Witjira National Park on the border or gain a job where I can be in a supervisory or management role I'd like to be able to practise all the skills I learn in 2006," Brenda said.
For more information on scholarships available at CDU, contact www.cdu.edu.au/scholarships or call toll free on 1800 061 963.