Support to pursue an aviation degree
This scholarship, which provides assistance to two eligible aviation students each year, was established to honour the pioneering work of Australia’s Civil Aviation Authority led by Horace Brinsmead.
Key points
Targeted to
Aviation students
Value
$2,000
Level of study
Undergraduate and postgraduate
Apply by
4pm Monday 10 March 2025
Scholarship details
To be eligible, you must:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- be full-time enrolled in one of the following degrees by the closing date of this scholarship:
- Bachelor of Aviation (1517)
- Bachelor of Aviation Management (1367)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Aviation (1584)
- Bachelor of Aviation/Bachelor of Information Technology (1610)
- Graduate Diploma of Flight Management (4188)
- have a minimum GPA of 5 (for continuing students).
You can apply for this scholarship via our application process.
Application information
We use the following sections of the application to consider you for this scholarship:
Study details
- Program preferences (commencing students).
- Program (continuing students).
Shortlist information
Following the closing date of this scholarship, applicants meeting the initial scholarship criteria will be contacted by email to provide a personal statement addressing how their personal values and attributes relating teamwork, determination, respect for others and selflessness emulate those of Horace Brinsmead.
Applicants will be shortlisted and may be required to provide additional information or documentation to evidence eligibility and/or to attend an interview with the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Value
This scholarship is valued at $2,000, payable in a single instalment.
Payment
Payments are made up to six weeks after the census date, subject to the recipient satisfying the scholarship terms and conditions.
Payment is made, after census, on confirmation the recipient is enrolled at Griffith University and still meets eligibility requirements.
Applications must be completed and submitted by the closing date.
Offers are made via email.
Applicants may be shortlisted and be required to provide additional information.
Griffith University reserves the right to withdraw an advertised scholarship at any time.
Donor details
This scholarship was established to honour the pioneering work of Australia’s Civil Aviation Authority led by Horace Brinsmead, who brought order to the barnstorming chaos of post-World War I aviation and established the world-class safety framework that underpins the endeavours of CASA and AsA to this day.
Horace Clowes Brinsmead was born in Hampstead, London, in 1883. He was educated at Clifton, Cranleigh and Repton schools. He migrated to Australia when he was 20 and settled on the land in North Queensland. A genial companion and good sportsman, he was liked by everyone.
At the outbreak of World War I, he was a planter in Tonga.
Brinsmead enlisted in the 24th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. When his battalion reached Gallipoli, Brinsmead was appointed adjutant. He was firm, just and courteous towards other ranks who—because of his slight build, gentle nature and quiet disposition—wondered if he was too refined for leadership in war. He proved his ability at Lone Pine when a heavy Turkish bombardment blew the front line to pieces. Sent in to command “B” Company, he quickly reorganised the men and had the trenches rebuilt to resist a fresh Turkish attack. He served at Lone Pine until the evacuation and commanded the last party to leave the sector.
When the 24th Battalion reached the Western Front in 1916, Brinsmead was promoted to captain. For gallantry at Poziers he was awarded the Military Cross. Later he was evacuated to England after he was severely wounded in a leg. He was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps headquarters as a senior staff officer in the training wing. He was promoted to major in 1918 and lieutenant-colonel a year later. In 1919 he was attached to the British delegation to the Paris Peace Conference. He was appointed O.B.E. in June and in November went to Germany with the Disarmament Control Board. He was demobilised in May 1920.
Although not a pilot, Brinsmead was keenly interested in aviation. In December 1920 he was appointed controller of the newly created Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence. He was responsible for framing the Air Navigation Regulations. With quiet insistence and diplomacy, he set about introducing order to a fragmented industry. He introduced airworthiness checks for planes, qualifications for those who serviced them, and medical inspections and licensing requirements for pilots. Some sectors of the industry were bitterly opposed to the changes, and he endured painful alienation from some individuals, including former colleagues in the AIF.
In his capacity as controller, Brinsmead flew thousands of miles investigating new aerial mail and passenger routes and reporting on landing grounds and general facilities. In 1921 he completed a return trans-continental flight from Melbourne to Derby, and in 1922 he completed an inspection of all existing and proposed QANTAS air routes.
In 1924, Brinsmead undertook a 22-day survey of Australian aerodromes and aerial routes in three stages: Melbourne to Darwin; Darwin to Perth; and Perth to Melbourne. This epic undertaking astounded observers throughout the world and confirmed the peace time potential of aviation.
In 1931, he was involved in negotiations for an air-mail route between England and Australia. He was on a flight to England when the aircraft crashed on take-off at Don Muang Aerodrome, Bangkok. Brinsmead was badly injured and remained an invalid until his death in Melbourne in 1934.
While some within the burgeoning aviation industry remained antagonistic to his reforms, he was cremated with full military honours and the enduring gratitude of the nation.
Start your application
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Get in touch
If you have a question, need some help with your scholarship application, or would like to make a donation, feel free to contact us.