Scholarship promotes women and education

Scholarships

Democrat Senator for South Australia Natasha Stott Despoja admits she may have an old-fashioned view about university - she believes it should be about love of learning and a holistic life experience, not just an academic pursuit towards a career.

She also strongly believes that university education should be publicly funded and available for anyone with academic ability.

Senator Stott Despoja funds a scholarship for female arts students at the University of Adelaide, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991. Now into its second year, the Stott Despoja Scholarship pays the students' tuition fees for the first year of their degree.

"Studying at the University of Adelaide was a wonderful time in my life, partly because of the opportunity to expand my academic horizons but also, more broadly than that, because of the opportunities I had to be involved in a range of extracurricular activities; being active in student representation, promoting the role of women on campus, writing for the student newspaper and some involvement in the drama group," said Senator Stott Despoja.

"I'm very thankful for the education that I have had and wanted to be able to give something back. I passionately believe access to education should be based on merit and ability, not how much money you or your family have."

Senator Stott Despoja visited the University recently to meet the 2006 and 2007 Stott Despoja Scholarship winners: Taryn Ryan from Broken Hill, studying for a double degree in International Studies and Law, and Aneta Reuter from Lobethal, now in her second year of her Arts degree in languages.

"It is such a good feeling following my lifelong goal of attending University but, at the same time, the move has not been easy," said 2007 winner Taryn, who is the youngest of five in a single-parent family.

"I had to make the big move away from my family, friends and a small country town to Adelaide. The scholarship has helped lift a weight off my shoulders, and my family and I are extremely grateful."

In 1995, Senator Stott Despoja, at the age of 26, became the youngest woman ever to enter Federal Parliament. Throughout her political career she has held the Democrats' higher education portfolio and has been a strong supporter of publicly funded education. While at the University of Adelaide she was President of the Students' Association in 1991.

Story by Robyn Mills