The University of Newcastle is offering a scholarship to survivors of Domestic and Family Violence to encourage and support their receiving of higher education.
This year thirty-four applications were received by the university for The Helen Maslen Scholarship with individuals describing past and ongoing instances of physical assault, intimidation, and harassment in the home.
The applicants disclosed the impacts of these experiences on their mental health and self-esteem, as well as the resulting homelessness and financial strain that came from leaving their situations.
Professor Penny-Jane Burke, the Director of the Centre for Equity in Higher Education stresses the importance of this scholarship in increasing the visibility of Domestic and Family Violence in the university environment.
"It is important because it raises the issue of domestic and family violence explicitly and how important it is to support women and families who have been victims of domestic and family violence to participate in higher education," says Burke, "...so it's a very important initiative that raises the profile and makes a specific agenda around this really important issue."
A survivor of domestic violence herself, Burke hopes the number, size, and longevity of the scholarship will continue to grow as the improved opportunity to receive higher education, "It is an incredible and important support mechanism for those women who want to access higher education but don't necessarily have the means to do so..."
One scholarship will be available each year for the next five years to anyone that has been a victim of Domestic and Family Violence regardless of age, gender or other factors.
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| Photo by The University of Newcastle Website |
