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We know there are many bright, ambitious students who want to excel in their studies. But focusing on school is not always easy, especially if you’re facing challenges with your health, caring duties, home life, or the cost of education and training.
We will be offering up to 1,400 scholarships to students enrolled in education or training in 2023. Successful applicants will receive $1,000 to help with school expenses and secondary support services.
You are eligible to apply if you are:
Studying in Year 10, 11 or 12 in NSW at one of the following in 2023:
You must also be either a social housing client or living in out-of-home-care, this can include:
Applications open Monday 5 September 2022 at 9:00am.
For new and returning high school students, applications will close Wednesday 30 November 2022 at 5:00pm.
For returning tertiary students, applications will close Friday 3 March 2023 at 5:00pm.
Applications are completed online. Click on nsw-dcj.smapply.io to register or log in.
Please read the guidelines for new applicants (PDF , 388.6 KB) and our fact sheet for new applicants (PDF , 176.5 KB) before you submit your application.
Yes, students who received a scholarship from DCJ between 2017 to 2022 can reapply as a returning applicant if they are still in social housing and taking on further studies in 2023.
Please read our fact sheet for returning applicants. (PDF , 197.6 KB)
Examples of items or services which can be purchased with the scholarship include (but not limited to):
Primary Support – specific to the student
* You will need to justify the need for a smart phone for educational purposes
Secondary Support – specific to the student
Call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322, press 2 for Housing Services then press 3 for General Enquiries.
Email the Scholarships team on education@facs.nsw.gov.au
05 Sep 2022
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.