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Moving away from home to study at a Perth university that is a world away from your home town can be daunting - and financial worries can be an added stress.

At UWA, the School of Indigenous Studies becomes a ‘home away from home' for Indigenous students, offering advice on accommodation, bridging courses and available financial support and scholarships.

The Jack and Eleanor Bendat Rural Indigenous Scholarships have already helped three graduates and are currently assisting two students.

Fourth year Engineering student Samantha Shepherd grew up in Broome and completed high school in Karratha before studying Environmental Engineering at UWA.

Samantha, who was selected for Robert de Castella's 2011 Indigenous New York Marathon squad, has proved to be an excellent student. When she completes her degree next year she's aware of many employment options in Perth and the boom town of Karratha where her family lives.

Receiving the scholarship made a world of difference, says Samantha.

"It's allowed me to stay focused on studies rather than stressing about finances," she says. "Moving away from my family made me more independent and the scholarship has made the goal of achieving a degree that much easier."

The 2011 scholarship recipient, Cameron Howard from Broome, is in his third year of a Bachelor of Health Science degree.

A natural leader, Cameron chaired the Indigenous study body on campus and represented the University at the National Indigenous Tertiary Education Games in 2011. He hopes to study Medicine after completing his undergraduate degree.

Two earlier scholarship recipients, Joe Kaissis and Sheena Graham, are enjoying working in Canberra. Joe, a Bachelor of Health Science graduate, has since completed a graduate program at the Department of Health and Ageing in Canberra.

Sheena Graham, the first UWA student to receive the scholarship, is now a Manager at AusAID in Canberra.

"I'm grateful for Mr and Mrs Bendat's generosity that helped me complete my studies and pursue my chosen career," says the graduate who is actively involved with Amnesty International and has done voluntary work for the United Nations.

Published in Uniview Vol. 31 No. 2 Winter 2012