Lambert McBride
Perpetual Bursary 2016
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the late Lambert McBride?

Mr Lambert McBride, also known as ‘Stan’ or ‘Lambie’, was a Bundjalung, Yugambeh and Mulinjarli man
who was born in 1918 at Grady’s Creek about 10 kilometres outside of Kyogle, New South Wales. Lambert
served in the 15th Battalion (Transport Division) during the Second World War, and was in Townsville when it
was bombed by the Japanese. For his contribution, Lambert was later awarded the War Medal and the
Australian Service Medal presented by the then Queensland Governor, His Excellency Major General Peter
Arnison.

Mr McBride worked as a bullock team driver, a timber-getter, sugar cane cutter, railway fettler, bridge
carpenter and wharfie. He also worked at many timber yards in Brisbane. He was a fierce advocate and
lobbyist for Aboriginal rights and joined the Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and
Torres Strait Islanders (QCAATSI), the main Brisbane-based organisation, which was affiliated with the
Federal Council of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). In time, he was to become the President
of QCAATSI.

Mr McBride was a pro-unionist and member of a number of unions. Throughout the 1960s Mr McBride drew
on his union ties and associations in the many letters he wrote asking the unions for both moral and
financial support, in his work for Aboriginal social justice.

He was a life member of the One People of Australia League (OPAL) and of the Koobara Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Kindergarten. He was also an adopted Elder of the Taigum State School and a member
of many other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.

Mr McBride and his wife May first moved to Zillmere in 1956. In 2002, the Brisbane City Council paid tribute
to the outstanding contribution that Mr McBride had made to Aboriginal social justice and reconciliation by
naming a parkland at Zillmere after him.

Further information about Mr McBride can be found here.
Background of Bursary

The Queensland Government instituted the Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary (Bursary) as part of the 40th
anniversary of Indigenous recognition in Australia’s Constitution.

The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (OATSIP) and the Department of
Communities established the Bursary to celebrate and honour the late Lambert McBride.

In 2015 the Teacher Attraction Team, Human Resources Branch, Department of Education and Training
became the lead agency to administer the Bursary on behalf of the Queensland Community Foundation.
1.
Why is the Bursary being offered? The purpose of this Bursary is to encourage and assist Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students complete their tertiary education at a Queensland higher education
institution and to continue the legacy of the late Lambert McBride.
2.
How many Bursaries are available? There is one Bursary available in 2016. Note: The selection panel
reserves the right to not award a Bursary in any year if candidates are deemed not suitable.
1
Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Frequently Asked Questions
Prepared by Colleen Meakins | Project Officer, Teacher Attraction Team, Department of Education and Training
Email: scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au | as at 19.10.2015
Eligibility
3.
How do I know if I am eligible for the Bursary? All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying at a
Queensland higher education institution who will commence their second or third year of study in Semester
1, 2016 are eligible to apply for this Bursary. Candidates must also provide written evidence of being
recognised as a member of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community.
4.
Do I have to study teaching to be eligible for the Bursary? No. The Department has received applications
from many fields of study including medicine, law, arts, teaching, etc.
5.
I am studying part-time. Am I eligible to apply for the Bursary? The Bursary is only available to students
studying full-time at a Queensland higher education institution.
6.
I live outside of Queensland but I am studying externally (via correspondence) at a Queensland higher
education institution. Am I eligible to apply for the Bursary? Yes. The Bursary is only available to students
studying full-time at a Queensland higher education institution.
7.
I will start my first year of university in Semester 1, 2016. Am I eligible to apply for the Bursary? No.
Applications are invited from Indigenous students undertaking full-time study in any field who will commence
study in their second or third year of study at a Queensland higher education institution in Semester 1, 2016.
Submitting an Application
8.
When does the Bursary open and close? The Bursary opens on [date] and closes at 5.00pm Friday 11
December 2015. Late applications will not be accepted.
9.
How can I apply for the Bursary? Candidates must submit an online application through the Queensland
Government Jobs website.
To access the Bursary application, select the active ‘apply here’ link on the Lambert McBride Perpetual
Bursary website on department’s Indigenous portal; or apply direct from the SmartJobs website at
www.teach.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Bursary’.
Candidates will be directed to the page containing information about the Bursary.
o At the bottom of this page, select the green button ‘apply online’.
o The candidate will be asked to log into their SmartJobs account (refer to Question 10).
o When logged into the account, candidates will be asked to complete an online application including an
online questionnaire (refer Question 11) and to submit the documentation as outlined in the Lambert
McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Documentation Checklist (refer Question 12).
10. When I select the ‘apply’ button (on the smartjobs website) it asks me to log into my account but I don’t have
one. What do I do? Candidates will need to register for a SmartJobs account – follow the directions on the
website. This account can also be used to apply for other scholarships and grants offered by the Department
of Education and Training.
11. What sort of questions will be asked on the online questionnaire?
o Which higher education institution you are studying at?
o What year of tertiary studies are you commencing in 2016?
o If you are a Graduate Diploma student, provide the details of your most recent tertiary qualification
o What do you want to achieve by studying at a higher education institution (written statement)?
o How will you contribute to ATSI communities in the future (written statement)?
Candidates will be unable to submit an online application if the above questions are not answered.
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Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Frequently Asked Questions
Prepared by Colleen Meakins | Project Officer, Teacher Attraction Team, Department of Education and Training
Email: scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au | as at 19.10.2015
12. What documentation is required to submit with my application? As outlined the in the Lambert McBride
Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Documentation Checklist, the following must be attached to the candidates
application:
o Proof of identity (Question 12)
o Proof of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Heritage (Question 13)
o Academic results (Question 14)
o Proof of enrolment (Question 16)
o Two written references (Question 17)
o CV/resume
13. What is acceptable written evidence of proof of identity?
o Valid Queensland Driver’s License
o
Valid Proof of Age Card/18+ Card/Medicare Card
o Valid Passport
o
Birth Certificate showing full name
o Marriage Certificate (if name is different on identity above or academic transcripts)
14. What is acceptable written evidence/proof of Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage? An Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander person is one who:
o Is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander decent;
o Identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person;
o Is accepted as such by the community in which he/she has lived.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander decent may be proved by:
o Birth records or genealogies verified by a suitable authority;
o A letter (on letterhead and often bearing a common seal) where alternate records are not available,
signed by the Chairperson of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander incorporated organisation in which the
applicant lives or has previously lived;
o Written evidence of having previously been or are currently receiving ABSTUDY support;
o Written evidence of support received from any other reputable organisation where proof of heritage has
been a requirement of receiving support;
o Letter from school principal or community education counsellor.
Further information can be obtained from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies (AIATSIS).
15. How can I obtain a copy my academic transcript? Candidates can obtain an ‘unofficial transcript’ from their
student portal.
16. Does my official or unofficial transcript need to be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP)? No. As long as the
date is noted on the official or unofficial transcript (screen dump or address bar) this should be sufficient.
17. Where do I obtain proof of enrolment? Confirmation of enrolling into subjects for Semester 1, 2016 from the
higher education institution should be sufficient. This is usually issued online at the time of selecting
subjects for the semester.
18. I need to provide two references. What information should be provided by the referees? The references
should give an indication of the candidate’s motivation and ability to undertake tertiary study, any known
community involvement, and state the nature of the relationship between the candidate and the referee and
how long they have known the candidate. One written reference must be from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander person and/or community organisation and include the stamp seal or be on official letterhead.
19. Will the selection panel contact my referees? By submitting an application, the candidate authorises the
selection committee to make enquiries regarding their suitability for the Bursary. This could include
contacting referees or liaising with the academic staff at the higher education institution.
3
Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Frequently Asked Questions
Prepared by Colleen Meakins | Project Officer, Teacher Attraction Team, Department of Education and Training
Email: scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au | as at 19.10.2015
20. I am having difficulty uploading the required documentation. What can I do? Candidates can submit three
documents with a file limit of 2MB per document through SmartJobs. Should the files exceed the 2MB per
document limit, candidates could try scanning their documents at a lower resolution.
If candidates are still experiencing difficulty, documents could be emailed to scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au.
Emails must be clearly marked ‘Lambert McBride Bursary’.
Candidates must submit all required documentation by the closing date 5.00pm Friday 11 December 2015.
Selection Process
21. How will my application be assessed? The selection panel will assess candidates on the following:
o
Academic merit and potential of candidate (academic transcripts);
o
The character of the candidate (references, questionnaire);
o
The candidate has successfully completed their first or second year of study at a Queensland higher
education institution (proof of continued enrolment in the course).
22. Will I be required to participate in an interview? The selection panel will assess the application as noted in
Question 20. The selection panel may require candidates to undertake an interview face-to-face or by
telephone if further information is required.
23. Who is on the selection panel? The Bursary selection committee composition will be drawn from Ms Linda
McBride-Yuke (the late Lambert McBride’s daughter), plus a representative of the Queensland Community
Foundation and/or a representative of the Department of Education and Training.
24. When will I be notified of the outcome of my application? The Bursary recipient will be advised of the
outcome in April 2016. The Bursary recipient will be publically awarded and announced as part of the 2016
Scholarships and Grants presentation ceremony in Semester 1, 2016.
General Questions
25. What are the benefits of applying for the Bursary? The Bursary recipient will continue the legacy of the late
Lambert McBride, receive recognition of receiving the Bursary including attending the Scholarships and
Grants award ceremony to be held in Brisbane, Semester 1, 2016, and receive a one-off payment of $5,000.
26. How much is the Bursary worth? The Bursary recipient will receive a one-off payment of $5,000.
27. When and how will the Bursary recipient receive the money? The funds will be paid as a lump sum by a
cheque in the semester following the award of the bursary.
28. What is the Bursary money used for? The Bursary is to be used at the recipients own discretion, however, it is
designed to assist with study-related expenses such as computer, text books or stationery.
29. It this bursary amount taxable? As there is no commitment by the Department of Education and Training with
this bursary, it should not be considered taxable income. However, it is recommended that candidates seek
financial advice from their tax agent or a financial advisor to determine if it will impact on any other
government benefits that they may receive.
Further Information
Information including the Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Fact Sheet and Lambert McBride
Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Documentation Checklist can be accessed on the department’s Indigenous portal.
Specific questions can be directed to the Project Officer, Teacher Attraction, Human Resources Branch,
Department of Education and Training. Phone: 3055 2984 | Email: scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au
For information about the other scholarships and grants offered by the Department of Education and Training
visit www.teach.qld.gov.au.
4
Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary 2016 – Frequently Asked Questions
Prepared by Colleen Meakins | Project Officer, Teacher Attraction Team, Department of Education and Training
Email: scholarships@dete.qld.gov.au | as at 19.10.2015