Member for Ku-ring-gai, Alister Henskens SC MP, is encouraging local first-year apprentices who are experiencing financial or other personal hardship to apply for a $15,000 Bert Evans Scholarship.

Mr Henskens said applications for Bert Evans Scholarships, which are worth $5000 a year over three years, are now open.

“A Bert Evans scholarship is one of the most significant ways an apprentice or trainee can secure $15,000 to make sure they have everything they need to finish their training,” Mr Henskens said.

“The Bert Evans scholarships help apprentices in financial or personal hardship to buy new tools, cover fuel and car maintenance costs, pay for extra training courses or cover the cost of living.      

“As well as hardship, applicants also need to show they have a positive attitude as well as the professional aptitude to successfully complete their training.

“There can be many reasons why apprentices face personal hardships. They may be living away from home without any support and struggling to meet living and training costs, have a disability, or may come from difficult family situations.

“These scholarships have helped people overcome personal barriers to finish their apprenticeships and go onto rewarding careers and set them up for life.

“I strongly encourage any local apprentices who meet the criteria to apply now for a scholarship.”

Local apprentices who started their training between 1 March 2017 and 30 May 2018 are eligible to apply for this year’s scholarships. Applications are open until Thursday, 31 May.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills. John Barilaro, said more students, parents and employers were recognising the value of vocational education and training (VET) to deliver rewarding careers and build skills that are in high demand in the community.

“A career through VET can transform lives and we want to see people overcome financial or personal hardship through our VET system to set themselves up for a positive and rewarding life,” Mr Barilaro said.

“These scholarships are open to both female and male apprentices and trainees and have already helped hundreds of young people succeed in their career and make a positive contribution to their families and communities.

“So I urge local training providers and employers to encourage deserving apprentices to apply for a Bert Evans scholarship.”

These scholarships were named after the late Bert Evans AO, who was a passionate advocate of our VET sector for over 30 years.

For more information, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au/bert_evans_scholarships or phone 13 28 11 to contact your local Training Services NSW Office.