Two scholarships for young people from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds newly arrived in Australia to support them accessing tertiary education are now open.

The Graham Sherry OAM Scholarships are available annually to a young female and male from refugee backgrounds to help them complete their studies at university or TAFE.

The bursaries celebrate the contribution the former Chair of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia Graham Sherry OAM has made to the refugee sector over 13 years.

Mr Sherry joined AMES in 2004 after a distinguished legal and business career.

In his time as chair AMES Australia has developed as an organisation fostering new ideas, new ways of working and new visions for the future.

Mr Sherry, who stood down as Chair in 2016, said this week he was proud to be associated with the scholarships.

“One of the quintessential things about Australia is giving people a fair go and I’m sure these scholarships will afford that fair go to young refugees who have come from difficult, often tragic, circumstances to make their homes in Australia,” Mr Sherry said.

“They will help give young people the chance to get a great education, to succeed and become leaders in their own communities and in the broader society. These young people will hopefully become role models and examples for those who will follow them,” he said.

AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the scholarships were a recognition of Mr Sherry’s leadership and commitment to work of supporting refugees and migrants settle successfully in Australia.

“Graham has always had a personal interest in helping young people achieve the very best and at AMES Australia that translated into help for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” Ms Scarth said.

“So, we are very pleased to be recognising Graham with these scholarships that will help young people from emerging communities along their educational pathways,” she said.

Young people from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds are eligible to apply for the scholarships if they are undertaking tertiary study.

The scholarships will be awarded by a committee that will include Mr Sherry.

Applications have opened and the details can be seen here: https://www.ames.net.au/about/graham-sherry-oam-scholarship

Laurie Nowell
AMES Australia Senior Journalist