2026 Community Bank Gisborne Tertiary Scholarship Program for University and TAFE (CEF)(U)(T)

Submissions are now being accepted. Submissions close at midnight 16 January 2026 (AEDT).

Hello! We’re glad you’re here.

We realise that you may not have been accepted into your preferred course yet, so you are able to part-fill and save your application in the system and complete it when you have all the details. Alternatively, you can wait until you have been accepted and complete your application then. Good luck!

At any time, please do not hesitate to contact us on community@mrce.com.au if you want to discuss our scholarship program or process. 

Who are we?

Community Bank Gisborne is a locally owned branch of Bendigo Bank that invests profits in projects to help make living, working and playing in Gisborne and surrounds even better. One way we do this is through our scholarship program which we see as an investment in our leaders of tomorrow. To date we have provided over 60 scholarships to local youth to help them start tertiary study with success.

One Year Scholarship - from $2,000

The scholarship aims to assist motivated students from Gisborne and surrounds who recently completed secondary school, have been offered a place at an Australian University or TAFE to study in 2026 and are facing financial, medical, social and/or personal circumstances that make it difficult to undertake further education. The scholarship award value starts at $2,000 for each successful recipient, for 1 year subject to the criteria set out below. 

The scholarship awards financial support for the following study-related expenses - accommodation costs, course costs, study-related materials/equipment, textbooks, tutoring, education-related travel (within Australia) and tools/supplies.

Scholarship amount: From $2,000 for 2026 (exact amount awarded and number of recipients is at the discretion of the selection committee)

 

Introducing the Maurice Bourke Tertiary Three-Year Scholarship in 2026 - $2,500 per year for three years

Maurice (Maurie) Bourke was a founding Director of Community Bank Gisborne back in 2008.  He is the embodiment of community spirit, integrity, and lifelong service. For decades, Maurie has generously shared his time, expertise, and unwavering commitment with the people of Gisborne, leaving an indelible mark on the region and its residents. Maurie’s legacy is one of quiet leadership, tireless service, and deep-rooted care for his community and family.

The Maurice Bourke Scholarship stands as a tribute to his enduring impact—a symbol of the values he lives by and a beacon for future generations to follow. Applications for this three-year scholarship are encouraged from students who demonstrate a passion for community involvement and/or social impact.

Applicants use the same application form as the one-year Early Tertiary Scholarship, with the addition of a short video explaining why they are a strong candidate. The successful recipient will commit to attending a minimum of three MRCE events and take part in two profile stories for our website and social media. 

Scholarship amount:                                         $7,500 over three years ($2,500 per year)
Program commencement date:                       2026
Number of scholarships awarded per year:   One  
Total annual commitment:                                $2,500 in year 1, $2,500 in year 2 and $2,500 in Year 3

 

Key qualification criteria:

  • You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
  • At the time of application, you reside in Gisborne and surrounds, defined as postcodes 3431, 3437, 3438, 3440, 3441 and 3442.
  • You are a motivated student, and can demonstrate challenging circumstances (financial, social or other) hindering your ability to undertake or succeed at tertiary study;
  • In addition, we would consider favorably any student able to demonstrate a level of community engagement and leadership.

For study at University (undergraduate bachelor's degree level only):

Qualification criteria:

  • You will be commencing an undergraduate bachelor’s degree course in 2026;
  • You will be studying full-time or part-time in an approved Australian course at an Australian university or institute;
  • You can be studying on campus and/or off campus (including online).
  • You graduated from secondary school in 2025 or 2024 (if you took a gap year);
  • This is your first attendance at an Australian university or institute

For study at TAFE (in courses other than undergraduate bachelor’s degree):

Qualification criteria:

  • You will be commencing a TAFE course or commencing or continuing apprenticeship- or trainee-related TAFE study in 2026;
  • You will be studying full time or part time in an eligible Australian TAFE course* at an approved educational institution Australia;
  • You left secondary school in 2025 or 2024 (completed year 10 at a minimum);
  • This is your first attendance at TAFE; and

*Eligible courses include:

  • Full-time or competency-based completion (Apprenticeships),
  • Certificate I, II, III or IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate degree.

Courses ineligible for this scholarship include:

  • VETiS,
  • Foundation level training,
  • Short courses.

Course must be of at least 10 weeks’ duration for full-time study or the part-time equivalent.

Scholarships will be awarded on the recommendation of a selection committee and will be based on how an applicant addresses the qualification criteria.

Please select your relevant scholarship type in the application form – TAFE, University, or Other (if you are attending a different registered training organisation).

Have a question on the 2026 Community Bank Gisborne Early Tertiary Scholarship for University and TAFE, or your eligibility? Please email us on community@mrce.com.au

Need help with the application form or portal?  Please contact the Community Enterprise Foundation, who administer our scholarships, on 1300 304 541.

The Scholarship Selection Committee reserves the right, at its discretion, not to award this scholarship in any given year.

Community Bank Branch Scholarships are funded from management accounts of the Community Enterprise Charitable Fund ABN 12 102 649 968 (the Fund), The Bendigo Centre, Bendigo VIC 3550. Sandhurst Trustees Limited ABN 16 004 030 737 AFSL 237906, a subsidiary of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178, AFSL 237879, is the trustee of the Fund. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Before you begin:

Welcome to the Bendigo Bank online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants. For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please email us at foundation@bendigobank.com.au and quote your submission number. If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Saving your draft application:  

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save and close' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off. You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download PDF' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

Submitting your application:

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it. Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top or bottom of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed and there are no validation errors.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible. When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register. If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted. Hint: check the email hasn't landed in your spam/junk email folder.

Attachments and supporting documents:

You will need to upload/submit attachments to support your application. This is simple but requires you to have the documents saved on your computer, or on a storage device. You need to allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.