Westpac Scholars Trust has invested over $1.3 million in 15 outstanding scholars at the University of Tasmania since 2016. Each year, this number continues to grow with the selection of passionate University of Tasmania students as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to awarding 100 new scholarships every year.
“By empowering our newest scholars through education, leadership and connections, I believe they will be at the forefront, driving positive change in Australia.”
Westpac Scholars Trust CEO Amy Lyden
The scholarships fall into two categories: Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships and Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships.
The Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarships provide Australian undergraduate students with the opportunity to study for a semester at a leading Asian university, with a focus on developing leadership skills and understanding Asian culture.
Recipients receive $12,700 in financial support from Westpac for their exchange. The funding supports travel, study and living expenses as scholars immerse themselves in the cultural, social and political experiences the region has to offer.
The University of Tasmania Westpac Asian Exchange Scholars in 2024 were Georgia Arnold and Molly Topham. For the third consecutive year, the University of Tasmania was also proud to partner with Westpac in the design and delivery of the Asian Exchange Leadership Development Program, which is held in Singapore.
Inspired by her passion for social justice, justice studies student Molly travelled to East China Normal University for her exchange.
“I want to find ways to strengthen our relationship beyond trade and cooperate towards substantial change,” Molly said before departing.
“Chinese culture is also rich and beautiful, and as a dancer, the opportunity to try new forms and styles of dance is quite exciting!”
Since returning, Molly said, “As an avid learner of Mandarin Chinese, getting the opportunity to use the language and be fully immersed daily greatly impacted both my current skills and the determination to continue learning the language to increase my fluency.
“Beyond the academic, I benefitted by seeing and being challenged by the perspectives of my peers, and through travel experiences and communicating with locals I saw and got to appreciate new perspectives, values and ways of life different to my own.
“My exchange helped me challenge my original perceptions of what I thought I was capable of; it helped me recognise that nothing is impossible as long as we try.”
Arts student Georgia Arnold travelled to Tsuru University in Japan for her Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship.
“I am passionate about helping people,” Georgia said.
“I hope to one day work as a speech pathologist in Japan, assisting English speakers living there, as well as Japanese natives learning English,” she said.
“Living in Japan was always a dream of mine, and this scholarship offered me the chance to not only achieve that, but to connect with a group of similar, enthusiastic people who I am sure will teach me a lot.”
In addition to Asian Exchange Scholarships, nine University of Tasmania students have received Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships, with two more announced for 2025. Valued at $120,000 each, these scholarships support postgraduate study in areas such as innovation, sustainability, and social change, while also providing access to leadership and mentorship programs.
The 2024 University of Tasmania recipients of the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships were Ella Burgun (marine and Antarctic science) and Bethany Yates (protected area conservation).
Bethany says, “The Westpac Scholarship is validation of my pursuits, it is the support needed to dedicate myself to my studies, and it is a community of mentors and scholars that say, 'you can do this, we believe in you'."