9.5.8.3 Long Tan Bursary

Under the MRCAETS, the Repatriation Commission may create a bursary in order to assist a student with their tertiary education, known as the Long Tan Bursary. The Commission may determine the duration and value of the bursary and the number of bursaries to be granted in any calendar year. 

The Commission may only award a bursary to a VEA eligible child who is in the Long Tan Class of Person or a VEA eligible grandchild. Eligibility for a bursary is established through eligibility determinations made under section 257B of the MRCA. 

The below eligibility determinations were made under sections 116A and 116CA of the VEA respectively, and continue in effect under the MRCA by the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004: 

• Veterans' Entitlements (Veterans' Children Education Scheme) Eligible Persons Determination 2017 (children)
•  Veterans' Entitlements (Veterans' Children Education Scheme - Long Tan Bursary) Determination 2018 (grandchildren)

Generally, to be eligible to apply for a bursary a student must either be the child or grandchild of a Vietnam veteran who is making the transition to tertiary study, academically able to complete an undergraduate degree (or similar tertiary course), and whose family circumstances are such that the person may require additional financial assistance. 

In deciding whether to award a Long Tan Bursary to an eligible child, the Commission must take into account any matters the Commission thinks is relevant. This will generally include consideration of the matters outlined in the Long Tan Bursary Operational Guidelines. 

The Commission may award a bursary subject to the conditions in the document offering the bursary to the person and suspend or terminate a bursary if the person fails to comply with a condition. 

The Commission may contract with another person to administer the Long Tan Bursary and delegate its administrative powers. The Administrator may undertake the functions outlined in 8.5.1.1 of the MRCAETS instrument, which includes the power to: 

• accept and assess an application for the bursary, 
• award or refuse to award the bursary to an applicant, 
• impose conditions on a bursary, 
• monitor and report on a recipient of the bursary, 
• suspend or terminate a bursary.