SES volunteer and a Wallabies prop among 2023 John Monash scholarship winners
Fifteen Australians who have excelled in academic life, community service and sport have been awarded prestigious John Monash Scholarships to undertake post-graduate study at leading international universities.
Madison Smith, who works in bushfire risk management and operational emergency management and is an SES volunteer, is the 2023 Bob Hawke John Monash scholar. She will undertake a Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience at the University of Canterbury.
Tomas Robertson, a rugby union prop who has been capped 27 times for Australia and played more than 80 Super Rugby matches, is the 2023 Tim Fischer John Monash scholar. He will undertake a Master of International Health and Tropical Medicine at Oxford University.
Two Zelman Cowen scholarships have also been awarded to honour the former Governor-General of Australia.
Bridget Dunne will undertake a Master in Criminal Justice Policy at the London School of Economics with the aim of contributing to law reform in Australia.
Chris Raine will undertake a Master of Public Administration at University College London with a focus on establishing an impact investment fund to address addiction and mental health.
The Bob Hawke, Tim Fischer and Zelman Cowen scholarships are made possible each year by a $16 million investment from the Australian Government.
For more information, including a full list of scholarship recipients, visit https://www.johnmonash.com/
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“The scholarships support some of our most outstanding young Australians to achieve their ambitions and to build Australia’s capabilities for the future.
“Madison Smith’s work to lead and strengthen communities, particularly through training women to lead community resilience programs, is highly important given Australia’s recent extreme weather events.
“Madison exemplifies the leadership qualities that the Bob Hawke John Monash scholarship supports.
“All the winners have done amazing things in their fields. They are role models for showing how success can come from motivation and determination and hard work.
“I look forward to hearing of their endeavours in the years ahead.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Education and Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm:
“It is great to see the recipient of the Tim Fischer John Monash scholarship, which supports country scholars, looking to give back to his regional community.
“Tomas Robertson, a young man who grew up in Dubbo, is pursuing his long-term aim of closing the gap in health outcomes between regional and metropolitan Australia, which is a fantastic goal.
“I’m sure all scholars will use this opportunity to gather knowledge, strengthen their leadership skills and bring those skills and knowledge back to the benefit of our nation.”