Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships
The Network supports consumers to further their education through the following Scholarships:
ACT Mental Health Consumer Network Consumer Scholarship
These scholarships (worth up to $500 a year per individual to a maximum of $2,000 in total) recognise mental health consumers who are furthering their education by providing scholarship to contribute to general education expenses such as computers, course texts and course fees.
Rufus Scholarship
Established in December 2019 by a private donor, this Scholarship provides an annual grant of up to $600 to support a mental health consumer to further or continue their education who would not otherwise have the financial means to do so.
The Rufus Scholarship is facilitated by the Network.
The ACT Mental Health Network Consumer Scholarship and Rufus Scholarships form part of the Mental Health Month ACT Awards. (see below for further details).
ACT Mental Health Consumer Scholarship Scheme
The ACT Mental Health Consumer Scholarship Scheme is a partnership between ACT Health, CIT and the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network. It is designed to support mental health consumers to study in the community services area. The aim of the scheme is to increase employment opportunities for mental health consumers in the following sectors: mental health, alcohol and other drugs, community development, youth work and community services. The scholarship scheme recognises the immense value offered by persons with lived experience of mental illness contributing in the workforce.
The ACT Mental Health Consumer Scholarship Scheme is a two staged approach to support mental health consumers gain qualifications in the area of human services.
- The first stage of the scheme is funding for the completion of the Statement of Attainment in Introductory Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs. This qualification works towards a Certificate IV within the community services package.
- The second stage is funding that covers course fees only for study in any of the Certificate IV courses in the Community Work Programs.
These courses are run by the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) at Bruce.
Anyone who has lived experience of a mental illness/disorder, has accessed services in the ACT and is 17 years of age or older is eligible to apply for admission to the scholarship scheme. Preference will be given to applicants who have not completed post-secondary studies and/or are unemployed.
Applications for this Scholarship open in late October/early November each year.
Awards
The Network commends the work and progress of individuals and groups by presenting the following awards during the Mental Health Month ACT Awards ceremony in October:
David Perrin Award
This award is presented in memory of David Perrin, an individual with multiple disabilities who made his mark in mental health services and was an inspiration to all who knew him. It recognises a mental health consumer who lives an independent and self-determined life beyond what they may have expected after diagnosis.
The Network advises consumers through our mailing list when applications open for the Scholarships and Awards If you would like to be included in our mailing list, please send a request through to actmhcn@actmhcn.org.au or use our Contact form.
Lived Experience Ally Recognition Award (LEARA)
This award recognises an individual or organisation with a longstanding and exceptional contribution to mental health consumers and consumer-centred mental health services in the ACT.
It acknowledges those who work collaboratively with consumers to achieve positive change.
For all Awards and Scholarships that are presented as part of Mental Health Month ACT Awards, nominations generally open in July and are awarded at the Mental Health Month ACT Awards ceremony in October. The Network advises consumers through our mailing list when applications open for the Scholarships and Awards If you would like to be included in our mailing list, please send a request through to actmhcn@actmhcn.org.au or use our Contact form.