RFSA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

The President’s Scholarship

&
The Chris Lord Memorial Scholarship

Document No: 2/2020

Effective Date: 01/08/2020

Approval Date: 30/07/2020

POLICY STATEMENT
The Association is committed to enhancing professional and personal development of
its Members by providing scholarships to eligible Members for the benefit of
individuals, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the broader community.

PURPOSE
To assist Members who are considered to be outstanding representatives of both the
NSW RFS and the RFSA to enhance their knowledge and skills and to improve their
career development and promote a high level of professional service to the community.

PREAMBLE
The RFSA provides annual funding for scholarships for eligible Members. Multiple
scholarships may be awarded on the advice of the Professional Development
Scholarships Committee.

To be eligible, applicants must be registered Members of the Rural Fire Service

Association and be able to provide evidence of their ability to undertake tertiary studies.

Applicants can be either Volunteer or Staff and must agree to the Terms and Conditions
of the Scholarship as determined.

Applicants must agree to submit regular progress reports, and in the event of
difficulties must report immediately to the RFSA Chief Executive Officer.
The President’s Scholarship may be awarded to either (or both) Volunteer and Staff
Members.

The Chris Lord Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to the most suitable Volunteer
applicant.

The Professional Development Scholarships Committee will also monitor progress

through the Scholarship Progress Reporting mechanisms.

Funding through the program will be limited to:-

 Course Cost and Fees

 Textbooks up to an agreed amount
 Stationery costs up to $150.00 pa

Any other incidental costs are to be met by the scholarship recipient including travel,
meals and accommodation.

Scholarship recipients must enrol in the selected course within 18 months of

notification of the scholarship by the RFSA.

1. APPLICATION FORM
Application forms will be available on the RFSA website, or may be obtained by calling
P: 02 4723 3400 or E: communications@rfsa.org.au.

All sections of the Application Form must be completed unless specifically marked as
optional.

Applications will open 1st August and will close on 15th October each year. Applicants will
be notified of the results of their application, whether successful or unsuccessful, within
14 days of the November State Council Meeting and must remain confidential until
announced by the President.

Successful candidates will be invited to attend the November meeting of State Council
for the announcement and presentation of their scholarships.

2. INTERVIEWS
The RFSA Professional Development Scholarships Committee reserves the right to
conduct Scholarship Interviews when it is deemed necessary.
Applicants will be notified within a minimum of 5 working days of the pending interview
and the location and time of the interview.

All travel costs to any such interviews will be met by the RFSA.

3. DISPUTES
Any disputes arising from the application process are to be directed immediately to the
RFSA Chief Executive Officer. An appropriate dispute resolution process will then be
determined by the State Board.

4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE

The Professional Development Scholarships Committee will consist of four members
selected by State Council through an EOI (Expression of Interest) process, and a
chairperson who shall be a member of the State Board.

The Professional Development Scholarships Committee is responsible for:

 Recommending to the State Board the approval of centrally funded scholarship
proposals.
 Recommending to the State Board eligibility conditions and selection criteria
associated with each scholarship.
 Recommending individual awards to the President of the day.

5. RFSA STATE BOARD

The State Board will determine any eligibility conditions and selection criteria associated
with each scholarship.

The State Board is responsible for determining and approving categories of RFSA
funded scholarships.

6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

A report will be provided annually to the State Board, State Council and the Professional
Development Scholarships Committee on the number and progress of scholarships:
 Recipients of a scholarship must confirm proposed start dates for all programs
of study they intend to undertake within six months of the awarding of the
scholarship, regardless of whether or not they have formally enrolled.
(Scholarship recipients have 18 months from notification of the scholarship to be
enrolled.)
 Recipients of scholarships must provide a progress report every 6 months once
the study program has been commenced, including at a minimum the results
 achieved in any subjects completed in the previous 6 months, and details of
those subjects intended to be undertaken in the next 6 months.
 Recipients of scholarships must confirm their agreement with the terms and
conditions of the scholarship in writing before the commencement of their
chosen course.

7. FUNDING
The Professional Development Scholarships Committee will review the value of centrally
funded scholarships on an annual basis to ensure appropriate distribution and
allocation of scholarships.

8. AWARDING OF SCHOLARSHIP
8.1 Each application must be assessed in terms of the prescribed eligibility
requirements before the applicant can be considered for selection to receive a
scholarship.

8.2 A rank order list of eligible applicants will be created and awards will be offered
to the highest ranked applicants.

8.3 A successful applicant may be permitted to defer their scholarship on application

to the Professional Development Scholarships Committee for a maximum of 18
months. If that deferment is approved, that scholarship may be reoffered and
the resulting deferment will be part of the following year’s scholarship pool.

8.4 Offers for a scholarship must be in writing and include:

 The scholarship eligibility criteria
 Terms and conditions
 Value and duration of the scholarship
 Contact details of the recipient
 Details for accepting, rejecting or deferring the scholarship.

8.5 Where an applicant becomes ineligible for, or rejects the offer of a scholarship,
an offer will be made to the next ranked candidate.

8.6 A report will be provided to the Professional Development Scholarships

Committee, the State Board and State Council on the progress of each current
scholarship.

8.7 Each recipient will be assessed at least annually to ensure they remain eligible
for a scholarship.
8.8 Recipients who fail to meet continued eligibility must be notified in writing and
may have their scholarship terminated or may be placed on probation.

9. ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOLARSHIP
9.1 A report will be provided annually to the Professional Development Scholarships
Committee, the State Board and State Council outlining information on the
number and progress of scholarships supported on a yearly basis.

9.2 Each scholarship must be administered in accordance with the conditions set out
in the “Terms and Conditions”.

9.3 Recipients accepting an offer of a scholarship must confirm their agreement by

the due date to abide by the scholarship terms and conditions or risk losing their
award.

9.4 Payments to successful scholarship recipients will be made in a timely way and
may be:
 Paid directly to the recipient upon provision of receipt.
 Paid indirectly in the form of a financial obligation paid on behalf of the
recipient (for example: student fees. Invoices must be presented).

9.5 Scholarships will normally be paid in two equal payments per year following
progress reports.

9.6 Recipients who are enrolled part time will be required to complete specific
taxation related forms and may be taxed on their scholarship in accordance with
Australian Taxation Office regulations.

10. APPROVAL
This document and all other documents associated with the RFSA Professional
Development Scholarships are to be endorsed by the State Board and approved by the
President of the day.

Source of Funding:

NSW RFSA (ACN 154 998 320) was established to promote the objectives of the
Association and provide funding to the Association to achieve its objects. The payments
made under this policy may be made by NSW RFSA or be funded by NSW RFSA.