Scholarships

South West TAFE scholarships

Applications for 2026 scholarships have now closed. Scholarship opportunities for 2027 will open in mid-October.

Who can apply?​​

Anyone that meets the specific scholarship criteria (above) and:

• is planning to or be enrolled in a full-time course at the South West TAFE
• can demonstrate a strong commitment to their studies and pathway into employment
• is an Australian Citizen or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa

What can the scholarship be used for?

Our scholarships can support you with:

• ICT equipment (eg. Laptop, iPad to use for study)
• tools and equipment to use in your industry
• costs associated with travelling and attending industry events (eg. accommodation, travel and tickets)
• course consumable and material fees
• booklist items
• course fees

View the Scholarship Guidelines

How to apply

1. Select a scholarship, and then click Apply for a Scholarship.
2. We recommend you provide strong supporting detail in your scholarship application so that it stands out to the shortlisting panel. For general advice on responding to application questions, you can contact the South West Skills and Jobs Centre

Other scholarship opportunities

SWTAFE'S Access and Equity Assistance

Our access and equity assistance aims to increase opportunities for those who demonstrate a desire to participate in education and may not be able to do so due to financial hardship. Find out more and apply for assistance.

Our Community Partnership scholarships are created through the support of our community partners. They provide financial assistance to put towards the cost of courses, along with pathways to employment, higher education opportunities and internships.

Selection for these scholarships and internships vary according to the organisation. Please apply directly through the organisation’s application process.

BizCover Women in IT Scholarship
Award: AUD $5,000
Additional Opportunity: Optional 3-month paid work placement with BizCover
Eligibility: Female students in Australia currently studying IT-related degrees. SWTAFE students studying the Certificate III in Information Technology meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications Open: 1 January 2026
Applications Close: 28 February 2027

You can find more information here: https://www.bizcover.com.au/scholarships/.

Early Childhood Education Educator Scholarship
Scholarship opportunity for Early Childhood Educators with financial support available to upskill from a certificate to a diploma.
Find out more and apply at vic.gov.au

Regional Disability worker Scholarships 2026
The Victorian Government is helping to increase the number of disability workers in regional and rural Victoria. It is doing this by providing financial support to complete a course in disability.

This program is available for domestic students living in regional and rural Victoria.

Scholarships of $3,500 will be available to people studying with an approved Victorian training provider. At the time of applications assessment, the applicants must be a student or recent graduate of:

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) (CHC33021), or
• Certificate IV in Disability Support (CHC43121).

Applications are due to open 21st July and close 15 September 2026.

Find out more here Department of Families Fairness and Housing Victoria | Regional disability worker scholarships

Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust Scholarship
Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust scholarships are for the children and grandchildren of ex-serving veterans. These scholarships are funded by ex-service organisations and private donors.
Find out more and apply

Bendigo Bank TAFE Scholarship
The Bendigo Bank TAFE scholarship is available to students living in rural and regional Australia who have been offered a full-time place at an Australian TAFE for the first time. 
Find out more and apply at Bendigo Bank.

Real Futures Grant
The Real Futures Grant is an annual Australian program that has been running since 2016.
The Real Futures Grant provides the winner with a $5,000 grant and is awarded to a student pursuing a certificate, diploma, degree, or traineeship in one of the following fields: healthcare, medicine, business, or finance.
Find out more

Rural Chances Scholarship
In partnership with Youthrive Victoria, the Rural Chances Scholarship is $5000. Must be under 35 years of age, hold a Centrelink card, studying a certificate III or above, and be planning to train in a skill area where there are skills shortages in rural/regional Victoria. Find out more at Youthrive.

Gallipoli Scholarship Awards
$6000 to study a diploma-level course at TAFE. Must be an Australian citizen who is a direct descendant of a serviceman or woman who has served in the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in any conflict or peacekeeping role since the First World War. Find out more at Gallipoli Scholarship.

Youi Student Grant - The Youi Student Grant 2026
The Youi Student Grant creates an opportunity for extraordinary students from a wide range of disciplines to achieve their potential where financially they may not otherwise be able to.
In 2026 Youi is once again backing students with unique skillsets, experiences and perspectives with a $5,000 opportunity.
The Youi Student Grant applications open 13 July 2026 and close on 27 November 2026. 

Other Scholarship Opportunities
There are also several scholarships available to students studying at TAFE from other funding sources. For a listing of all available scholarships, visit the Good Universities Guide.