Scholarships

Bruce Kirkwood Memorial Scholarship

Western Power offers one scholarship each year to a student, enrolled at Curtin University of Technology, UWA or Murdoch University, who wishes to pursue a career in electrical power engineering.

Administered by Western Power in association with Engineers Australia and senior staff of Curtin and UWA, the Scholarship honours the memory of the late JB (Bruce) Kirkwood AO, Commissioner and Chief Executive of WA's energy utility from 1975 to 1987.

The aim of this scholarship is to promote and maintain electrical power engineering as a field of study by encouraging and supporting students in their progress towards a career in the industry.

The scholarship is open to full-time students currently enrolled in their first year of a Bachelor of Engineering course or a combined degree course that includes electrical power engineering.

Applications are accepted in August each year.

Stuart Morgan Scholarship

In recognition of the contribution of Stuart Morgan as previous Chairman of the State Energy Commission of WA, Western Power offers two undergraduate scholarships each year to Year 12 students whose home residence is in country WA. The aim is to assist the students to gain a degree qualification at a university in Perth.

The Scholarship is open to any student who meets the following criteria:

Resident in a WA country location (permanent home residence).
Completing Year 12 studies at a WA country high school (or as a country boarder at a metropolitan high school).
Intending to undertake a degree course in the field of engineering (electrical, electronics, civil/structural, IT) or commerce at a Perth university the following year.
An Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Not in receipt of any other scholarship or committed to a cadetship with another company.

In addition to academic performance, the following attributes are considered in the selection process:

social, community, cultural, sporting or other scholastic involvements;
demonstrated teamwork and leadership; and
part-time work, practical experience, or support to family.

The successful scholar will be offered paid vacation employment during summer academic breaks with Western Power, in addition to the financial benefit of the scholarship throughout the duration of their degree.

Vacation employment

Western Power employs mainly electrical engineering students over the summer academic break. Preference is given to students approaching their final year of undergraduate studies and who show an interest in working in the electrical power industry upon graduation.

Applications from civil (structural) engineering students are also welcome.
To be successful you will, for the majority of positions, be undertaking power engineering units.

You will also:

Be available for work from late November to early February
Hold a current drivers licence
Be able to work anywhere in the metropolitan area
Be eligible to work in Australia (proof maybe required)

During the employment you will work on projects relating to electrical power engineering. This is a fantastic way to gain 'practical experience' in your chosen field.

Electrical Engineering scholarships

Western Power has a five year partnership with the University of Western Australia to provide scholarships to 20 electrical engineering students each year until 2011.

In 2008, the scholarship was valued at $30,000 and will increase to $50,000 in 2009.

The scholarships are available to second year electrical engineering students specialising in power engineering within the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.

Australian Power Institute bursary

Western Power has committed $900,000 over five years to jointly fund a new bursary program with Curtin University.

Five new students each year will be awarded an Australian Power Institute bursary as part of an industry-wide push to strengthen the country's energy industry skills base.

Last year, 10 first year Power Engineering students were awarded the $10,000 bursary over four years.