Applications open for second Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship

Applications for the Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship will open on Wednesday 15 January for regional students looking to relocate to commence studying at Curtin University.

The Southern Ports-funded scholarship is open to undergraduate students moving from the Great Southern, South West or Goldfields-Esperance regions to study in the faculties of Science and Engineering or Business and Law at either Curtin’s Bentley or Kalgoorlie campuses.

Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks said the scholarship is already making a significant impact for the inaugural 2024 scholarship recipient, and he’s looking forward to seeing it expand further in 2025.

“We had an overwhelming response from high-quality applicants last year and ultimately awarded aspiring marine scientist Lahni Davis with the scholarship. Lahni is now gaining hands-on experience with our Environmental teams,” said Mr Wilks. 

“This scholarship, named after our former Chief Executive Officer Steve Lewis, is one of the many ways Southern Ports is contributing to regional prosperity, in this case supporting opportunities for students in our regions to gain access to tertiary education.”

“We have exceptional talent based in our regions but we know there are extra costs associated with living regionally, and this scholarship aims to help with that.”

The recipient of the annual scholarship is supported for up to four years of full-time study by a stipend of $14,000 per semester, or a total of $112,000 overall, and is also guaranteed paid vacation work and mentoring with Southern Ports.

Inaugural Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship recipient Lahni Davis has enjoyed making the most of the support during the first year of her Bachelor of Advanced Science course in 2024.

In November she started working at Southern Ports’ Port of Albany on a project mapping sea grass distribution in Princess Royal Harbour.

“The financial support during my first year has been amazing and it has really made my transition from growing up regionally to studying in Perth much smoother,” Ms Davis said.

“To have been able to come home for the summer knowing there is a job here in an area I’m interested in is also really helping set me up for the future.

“Southern Ports’ support means that at the end of my degree I’m going to be much better placed to pursue a career in my chosen field.”

Southern Ports is the gateway for trade across southern WA, facilitating more than 35 million tonnes of trade through ports at Albany, Bunbury and Esperance annually. 

The regional port authority employs more than 300 people across the South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions with diverse expertise and skillsets from engineering, environmental management and asset management to finance, commerce and business information systems.

The scholarship was established in 2023 to recognise the legacy of former Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Steve Lewis during more than two decades in the ports sector.

It is open to students in the South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions who are looking to commence their first year of studies at Curtin’s Bentley or Kalgoorlie campuses.

Applications for the Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship will open on Wednesday 15 January and close on Wednesday 5 March. 

To sign up for notifications for when the Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship opens, and to apply visit curtin.edu/steve-lewis. 

For more information visit southernports.com.au/stevelewis