What’s happening?
Whitsunday school leavers now have access to more than $25,000 in support to study at James Cook University through a new scholarship funded by the North Queensland Export Terminal.
The NQXT Whitsunday Futures Education Grant gives two successful applicants a $4,500 bursary each year for three years to ease relocation and study costs.
Students from the Whitsunday Regional Council area, including Bowen, Airlie Beach, Proserpine and Collinsville, can apply if they plan to study science or environmental science majors.
Why it matters
The grant reduces financial pressure on regional students who want to study full time at JCU. It also links local talent with career pathways in the resources sector.
Both JCU and NQXT will assess applicants on academic results, community involvement, extracurricular activities and their plans to live and work in Central Queensland after graduation.
Local impact
The support strengthens education access for Whitsunday families and encourages graduates to remain in Central Queensland.
It also builds a stronger pipeline of science and resources workers for Bowen, the Whitsundays and nearby regions.
By the numbers
-
The scholarship program will deliver more than $25,000 in support across three years, which helps ease the cost of relocation for local students.
-
Each successful applicant will receive a $4,500 bursary each year for three years, giving $13,500 in direct financial aid per student.
-
The North Queensland Export Terminal has a nameplate capacity of 50 million tonnes each year, showing the scale of the facility where students will gain placement experience.
Zoom in
The Terminal is a multi-user export cargo site within the Port of Abbot Point, located about 25 kilometres north of Bowen. It ships high quality thermal and metallurgical coal from the Bowen and Galilee basins.
Mr Smith said the Terminal supports local, state and national economies through coal export royalties, which remain a major part of the Queensland budget.
JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs said JCU welcomed the partnership with NQXT Pty Ltd. He said the support helps open the way for local students. “This scholarship will be awarded to students studying Environmental Science, Marine Science, Geology, Data Science, and related fields, who have both strong academic potential and a desire to give back to their community,” he said.
Professor Biggs said recipients would get valuable industry time. “Scholarship recipients will receive financial assistance to alleviate the costs of studying full-time, as well as undertake a work placement at the North Queensland Export Terminal to gain hands-on industry exposure, mentorship, and invaluable networking opportunities.”
Zoom out
Regional students often face added barriers when accessing higher education. This grant tries to reduce those barriers while linking study choices with real jobs in Central Queensland. The partnership gives students both financial help and industry access in one package.
NQXT General Manager Mark Smith said the first award will be made early next year. “We are pleased to be able to provide this terrific opportunity for a young person from our local community to take a first step towards their future career,” Mr Smith said.
What to look for next
Applications close on January 16, 2026 and the first scholarship will be awarded early next year. Interest is expected from students aiming to enter science fields tied to the resources sector.
