The Long Tan Bursary

What is the Long Tan Bursary?
Who can apply?
How do I apply?
How are applicants assessed?
Who will assess my application?
How am I notified about my application?
Where can I get more information?

What is the Long Tan Bursary?

The Long Tan Bursary is an initiative of the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans' Affairs and is administered by the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT).

The Long Tan Bursary was established in August 2000 to help eligible children of Vietnam veterans meet the cost of tertiary education and help them obtain formal qualifications and skills needed to pursue their chosen career.

There are 50 bursaries of $9000 over three years available to eligible students across Australia every year. Bursaries are distributed proportionally across all States and Territories.

The bursary is named after the Battle of Long Tan, the best-known battle fought by Australians during the Vietnam War.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply for a Long Tan Bursary you:

must be the child of an Australian Vietnam veteran;
must have Australian residency status;
be planning to enrol or be enrolled in tertiary education in Australia, in an approved course of one or more academic year's duration. Tertiary education is considered to include vocationally-oriented courses at TAFE, business college, art school etc;
must be in needy circumstances such as financial need, health and other non-financial family and personal circumstances where these circumstances could prevent you from undertaking tertiary education. The test for financial need is eligibility on financial grounds for Youth Allowance educational benefits; and
not be a previous recipient of a Long Tan Bursary.

Assistance is not available to students undertaking graduate diplomas, masters' degrees, doctorates or professional training such as College of Law.

How do I apply?

Applications for the Long Tan Bursary open annually on Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18 August each year, and close on 31 October.

Application forms are available from the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust on:
1800 620 361.

How are applicants assessed?

Applicants for the Long Tan Bursary are assessed against specific criteria, including:

personal circumstances that could prevent an applicant from undertaking tertiary education without the bursary, such as financial need, health, family and other circumstances; and
academic record and the applicant’s prospects of successfully completing their first year of tertiary study.

In your application you will need to include:

information about yourself and the Vietnam veteran you are related to;
your academic background and referee reports;
the means test and details about your family situation.

You will also be required to write a statement on why you feel you should be awarded a Long Tan Bursary.

All applications are treated in the strictest of confidence.

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Who will assess my application?

Applications are collected and assessed by the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust and are treated in the strictest of confidence.

How am I notified about my application?

Successful applicants will be notified early in the new year — generally mid to late February or early March. The $9000 Bursary will be paid to recipients in instalments and can be used to help cover costs such as enrolment, course fees and textbooks.

Where can I get more information?

If you would like to find out more about the Long Tan Bursary, contact the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust:

Phone: 1800 620 361
Fax: (02) 9281 9164
Email: vvt@accsoft.com.au
Website: www.accsoft.com.au/~vvt
Address: PO Box K978
HAYMARKET NSW 1240