The inaugural scholarships and additional bursaries will be made from the newly established McCullough Robertson Support Fund for Indigenous Law Students, which has been set up to provide ongoing financial assistance to current and future students at QUT and encourage high achieving Indigenous students' pathways to private practice.
Mr Calma is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Social Justice Commissioner, the Race Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission and has led the 'Close the Gap' campaign on Indigenous health. Last year he delivered the formal response to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's National Apology. He will make the scholarship presentations after his public lecture.
QUT Faculty of Law Executive Dean Professor The Honourable Michael Lavarch said QUT was delighted to be able to offer $20,000 annually to Indigenous law students, thanks to the support of McCullough Robertson Lawyers.
"The funding is in the form of scholarships and bursaries aimed at helping ensure our Indigenous law students have access to all the resources and events that form part of the QUT law degree," Professor Lavarch said.
"Indigenous law students in their first year will be eligible to apply for start-up bursaries of $500, and one commencing student will receive a $5000 scholarship and a second $5000 scholarship will be awarded to a continuing student.
"Thanks to McCullough Robertson, bursaries will also be available for various activities including external Indigenous law students' attendance at compulsory classes, conferences, and travel and living expenses for internships with community organisations."
Professor Lavarch said QUT Indigenous law students who could demonstrate social and economic hardship, academic aptitude and a commitment to the Indigenous community would be encouraged to apply for sponsorship funding.
"Indigenous education is one of the priorities of McCullough Robertson's Community Partnerships Program out of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians' important place in our community and the disadvantage many face in pursuing education," McCullough Robertson partner Dominic McGann said.
"We hope that through supporting promising Indigenous law students at QUT we will see an increase in the number of Indigenous law graduates and ultimately, more Indigenous lawyers in our profession.
"An important aspect of the scholarship program is contact with McCullough Robertson, particularly through a work experience placement for the later year scholarship winner. The aim of this is to provide pathways into a career in a large law firm, where Indigenous people are too often underrepresented."
