Cerebral Palsy grant / scholarships

Maple Scholarship program

Maple Community Services offers 7 scholarships a year to people within the community services sphere. Our aim is to provide you with the finances to support your aspirations into higher education. These scholarships are open to those who identify as having a disability such as cerebral palsy, as well as individuals who choose a path to work towards a better future for our disability community.

Scholarships available from Maple Services include:

• Maple Emerging Talent Scholarship worth $5000 a year, designed to assist one Maple staff member or client in the Maple family to grow and expand their education.
• Maple Equality & Inclusion Scholarship worth $5000 a year, established to help provide one recipient living with a disability in Australia to gain greater access to affordable educational opportunities.
• Maple Youth Empowerment Scholarship offers 5 young recipients aged between 12 and 21 years a total of $1000 a year to help them to achieve greater access to affordable educational opportunities.

Your scholarship funds can be used to assist with tertiary study costs such as library and internet charges, purchase of textbooks, on campus accommodation, transport costs, computer hardware, personal support and more. To apply, download the associated application form and submit it along with your supporting documentation through the Maple website.

Government funded scholarships

The Australian government provides programs that support students with disabilities. This support can include financial aid catering to unique learning needs, support during learning, funds for assistive technology, and resources for suitable accommodation. 

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government initiative that funds supports and services for various aspects of daily life, including the pursuit of education, for those living with disabilities.

University specific scholarships

Many Australian universities offer scholarships tailored for students with disabilities. These can cover a range of support including financial assistance for educational materials, tuition fee waivers, and access to support services. Since offerings vary by university, it’s advisable to contact the universities you are interested in to inquire about available scholarships, their specific criteria and the application process.

Private and community scholarships

Several private entities, foundations and community organisations also offer scholarships for students with disabilities. These might be oriented towards specific study areas, geographic regions, or certain disability types.

For instance, the Walter and Eliza Hall Trust Opportunity Scholarship, annually aids five students with a permanent physical disability who study primarily on campus. Another option is the Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples’ Education Fund offering bi-annual grants to support the continued education of people living with disabilities. Applicants for this fund are encouraged to include a personal letter with their application form to highlight their educational aspirations.

There are also grants and scholarships available to those who work towards the cause of a better future for those living with cerebral palsy, such as:

Cerebral palsy scholarships

Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the Charles Sturt Foundation have established a Foundation scholarship program for Allied Health students supporting one student from each discipline of Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Physiotherapy.

Cerebral palsy alliance grants

The Research Foundation of Cerebral Palsy Alliance PhD Researcher Grants are provided to researchers, clinicians and medical experts whose projects deliver on CPA’s mission.