Scholarships

Our commitment to supporting teachers in NSW

We are committed to supporting our members with our scholarship program. In 2024, we are offering the Jim Sturgiss Memorial Scholarship and the Rosemary Hafner Memorial Scholarships. These scholarships provide valuable resources to educators who seek to improve their skills and further their careers.

2024 Scholarships are now closed. Our next scholarship round will open in Term 1 2025.

Rosemary Hafner Memorial Scholarships

The Rosemary Hafner Memorial Scholarship Fund was formed in 2008 in memory of the significant contribution made by Rosemary Hafner to science education. Rosemary Hafner was one of NSW and Australia’s leading science educators in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Her influence on Science Education ranged from Kindergarten through to the Higher School Certificate in NSW schools and she spread the message about the need to engage students more effectively in Science across Australia and internationally. The scholarships aim to support and assist both metro and regional science teachers in NSW with their professional development. 


 
Whilst Rosemary’s work ranged beyond science education into the requirements and processes for registration and accreditation of non-government schools, she never lost her focus on the needs of schools, teachers and students, and the need to avoid unnecessary complexity for school management so teaching and learning remained the emphasis in every school.

Rosemary believed in teachers and believed that they needed strong and effective support including professional development. Rosemary was a councillor, then Executive Member of the Science Teachers Association of New South Wales (STANSW) and served with distinction as a Councillor on the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) Council from 2004 – 2007.

Rosemary was a regular presenter at both NSW and Australian science teachers’ conferences. From her first year as Inspector-Science, Rosemary provided presentations that were well known for being stimulating, insightful and sometimes challenging. Her contributions were always made with a passion for science teaching and learning and with a positive outlook to the future.


AND
• Teacher relief
• Travel costs

To the value of no more than $600


 

The Rosemary Hafner Memorial Regional Scholarship will be awarded to one teacher from regional NSW.

This scholarship includes complimentary registration to any one STANSW event or project and: 

  • Travel costs
  • Accommodation costs
  • Teacher relief

To the value of up to $1,400

The Rosemary Hafner Memorial Metropolitan Scholarship  shall be awarded to one teacher from the Greater Metropolitan Area (Greater Metropolitan Area – inside the area bounded by the coast of NSW, Kiama, Moss Vale, Mount Victoria, Cessnock and Newcastle).

This scholarship includes complimentary registration to any one STANSW event or project.

Jim Sturgiss Memorial Scholarship

Jim was an educational researcher, education consultant and recipient of the NSW PTC Distinguished Service Award for leadership in delivering targeted professional learning to teachers. He worked with schools to align assessment, reporting and learning practice, and developed several state-wide assessments with DoE.  Jim passed away in 2021, following his work with STANSW to develop accessible online learning programs. 

The Jim Sturgiss Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to ONE teacher from regional NSW.

This scholarship includes complimentary registration to any one STANSW event or project and: 

  • Travel costs
  • Accommodation costs
  • Teacher relief

To the value of up to $1,400

Application Criteria for STANSW Scholarships

  1. Open to members of the Science Teachers Association of NSW, both primary and secondary, in any New South Wales school. Preference will be given to individual members. 
  2. Each applicant shall provide a brief statement in support of their application.
  3. A professional colleague shall provide a reference supporting your application.
  4. Successful applicants must provide an article following the PD event for the Science Teachers Association SEN Journal (up to 1,500 words maximum) within 1 month of the completion of the professional development opportunity. 
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Successful applicants

The successful applicants will be those assessed by the panel to best meet the above criteria. The panel’s decision will be final and no appeal will be considered. 

Donations

Donations are welcome to support our ongoing scholarships fund.

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