John McKillop Scholarship

Speech Pathology Tasmania, in partnership with UTas, has established the John McKillop Scholarship in memory of the late husband of SPT Senior Therapist and beloved colleague Linda.

The John McKillop scholarship will make it easier for Tasmanian mature aged students to study at university.

The scholarship is available to a Tasmanian student commencing undergraduate study in any Bachelor’s degree, University Preparation Program, or Diploma of University Studies, at the University of Tasmania in Semester 1, 2023. Preference will be given to a mature-aged student aged 26 and older. Students undertaking part-time study are encouraged to apply.

The scholarship seeks to honour John’s life, and support those who may have trodden a similar path by enabling access to university for a student who might otherwise not have been encouraged to embark on an undergraduate degree or diploma.

John left school in year 10 with the impression from teacher feedback that he didn’t have the academic ability to cope with years 11 & 12. After completing a Certificate in Civil Engineering at TasTAFE and becoming a draftsman, John noticed at work that he was often the one coming up with problem-solving ideas. He began to see that he had more potential than he had given himself credit for and decided to become a qualified engineer. So, in the 1990’s as a newly married man John returned to school and achieved matriculation at age 30. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture with honours, and was even awarded the Royal Institute of Naval Architecture Prize for Best Ship Design Project by a final-year student. Sadly, John tragically died suddenly in December last year.

The John McKillop Scholarship offers $8000 a year for up to five years. Applicants are asked to complete a personal statement in response to a statement about John’s life and values. You can read the statement here: John McKillop. Spelling, punctuation and grammar will not be taken into consideration.

The scholarship was first announced by Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania at a Government House reception on June 30, but applications have just opened in early September. In announcing the new scholarship Her Excellency presented Linda McKillop and her family with a memorial certificate (pictured above.).

Applications for the John McKillop Scholarship at UTas are now open until the end of October. More details and application information can be via the UTas website here. 

John & Linda with their children Nathan, Nicole and Alexander