SAE Creative Media Institute (SAE) and the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP) are thrilled to announce that they have collectively secured $1.26 million in funding as part of the Australian Government's Destination Australia program.

This significant investment will support 36 scholarships for new students to study at the vibrant Byron Bay campus on Ewingsdale Road, while stimulating growth in the Northern Rivers region by enhancing educational opportunities in creative media and counselling.

The Destination Australia program funds eligible tertiary education providers like SAE and ACAP to offer scholarships of up to $15,000 per student per year to students to study and live in regional Australia. Domestic students from underrepresented groups such as from low socio−economic backgrounds, those who are first in their family to study at tertiary level, those living with a disability, and First Nations people will be given priority.

The study areas that qualify at SAE include animation, audio, film, games and music. At ACAP, the one-year Diploma of Counselling Skills and three-year Bachelor of Counselling courses are eligible under the program.

ACAP CEO, George Garrop, highlighted the importance of the funding and the expected opportunities within the counselling industry. “This investment will financially assist new domestic counselling students who wish to live and study in the Northern Rivers region,” he said. “In addition, these funds will support the growing counselling sector, which is expected to expand by 14 per cent until 2026.”

SAE General Manager, Dr Luke McMillan, expressed his excitement about the funding. “This announcement is a testament to the exceptional education experience and support provided at our Byron Bay campus,” he said. “SAE is delighted to be providing new international and domestic students with financial support to pursue their dreams, while contributing to the growth of the Northern Rivers creative media industry.”

Byron Bay is known for its rich creative community and boasts the largest concentration of creative industry professionals in regional Australia. The Northern Rivers also holds the highest number of creative practitioners and businesses outside Australia's capital cities. SAE graduate and former Destination Australia scholarship recipient, Fernanda Gerdes, shared her success story.

“Receiving the Destination Australia scholarship was life-changing for me,” Fernanda said. “It not only allowed me to relocate from my home in Brazil to Byron Bay, but since graduating I’ve been able to build a successful art business locally.”

This financial injection reaffirms SAE and ACAP's commitment to providing exceptional creative media and counselling courses, while supporting the Northern Rivers economy.

Destination Australia scholarships will be available for new students commencing their studies in February 2024.

To apply now, visit the SAE and ACAP websites.