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Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund

What is the Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund?
The late Mr Kenneth W Tribe AO LLB was a Director on the Board of The Deaf Society of NSW for forty years, including fourteen years as President.

In 1983 the Board of Directors of the Deaf Society acknowledged the service given by Mr Tribe by establishing the Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund. This fund helps individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing to further their education.

What is the aim of the Fund?
To provide financial assistance to deaf or hard of hearing people wishing to undertake a course of study which will lead to improved employment opportunities and enhance the individual's ability to contribute to the NSW Deaf Community.

 

How much funding is available?

  • Up to $5,000 per year (this is dependent on the number of applications and availability of funds).
  • Applicants are only eligible to receive financial assistance from the Fund for a maximum of three times.
  • Successful applicants should be aware that receipt of funding in one year does not guarantee that more funding will be provided in subsequent years. Other avenues of funding should be explored if on-going financial assistance is required.
  • Additional funding will be at the discursion of the Selection Panel and is dependent on the applicant passing their course of study, providing reports to the Society on their progress and the availability of monies in the Fund..

Who are grants given to?

  • Applicants must be deaf or hard of hearing*. * Hearing loss of 55db or more in the good ear
    (World Federation of the Deaf definition).
  • Applicants must be Australian citizens or have permanent status as a resident of Australia and must be a resident of NSW.
  • Courses conducted by TAFE and universities and / or those which attract HECS-HELP fees will receive priority in terms of funding.

How do you make an application?

  • Read the Application Guidelines - to see the guidelines, click here.
  • Fill in an Application Form - to download the Application Form, click here.
  • Ask three people to fill in the Referee Form for you - to download the Referee Form, click here.
  • Send you completed Application Form will all supporting documentation (including your three Referee Forms and evidence of your hearing loss) to the Deaf Society's Parramatta office - for contact details, click here.

Applicants must have the support of a referee in each of these areas:

  • Personal
  • Employment
  • Educational

All supporting documents (including your three Referee Forms) must be received at the same time as the completed Application Form to be considered for funding. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant and will not be eligible for financial assistance. Applicants are welcome to complete and resubmit their applications – standard closing dates still apply.

Applicants must also comply with the aim of the Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund (listed above).

When are applications due?

  • Applications are assessed twice a year.
  • Closing dates for applications are 30 June and 31 December each year.
  • All applicants who make application by 30 June will be notified by 31 August in the year of application.
  • All applicants who make application by 31 December will be notified by 28 February in the following year.

What is the selection process?

  • The selection panel will be made up of:
      • The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Deaf Society of NSW or his/her nominee,
      • The Chairperson of Deaf Australia NSW or his/her nominee,
      • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Deaf Society of NSW, and
      • A member of the Board of Directors of The Deaf Society of NSW who is Deaf.
  • No applicant can be a member of the Selection Panel.
  • Applicants may be required to be interviewed by the panel in person.
  • Unsuccessful applicants in any one year may re-apply in a subsequent year.

What are the Fund conditions?

  • The Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund reserves the right to cancel a grant if, in its opinion, the purpose for which the grant was approved changes substantially, or if there is evidence of unsatisfactory progress and / or the funds are used for purposes not approved.
  • If you study overseas you must agree to come back to Australia to apply what you learnt, unless the Deaf Society Board agrees to change this rule.
  • Unless there are special circumstances, grants are paid by instalments when the Deaf Society receives invoices / receipts. Grants will only be paid if there is continuing satisfactory performance or development of the project (evidenced by reports at the end of each semester if a tertiary course is being undertaken).
  • A grant should be used within one year of it being approved. However, an extension of a year may be permitted in certain circumstances. Any extension must be approved by the Deaf Society of NSW's Chief Executive Officer.
  • Recipients must agree to provide a written report and a financial report including a record of receipts to the Kenneth W Tribe Fellowship Fund within three months of completion of their course of study or at the end of each semester if undertaking tertiary study.
  • Grants cannot be used to pay for past study /completed study.

What courses have recent recipients studied?

  • Bachelor of Combined Law
  • Bachelor of Engineering
  • Master of Arts – International Relations
  • Associate Degree in Law
  • Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
  • Associate Degree – Information Technology

 
All applications will be treated confidentially.

 

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