QCoal Foundation

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QCoal Foundation Celebrates 10th Scholarship Recipient in a Decade of Support

A Far North Queensland student is on the road to achieving her academic dreams, thanks to a $30,000 scholarship, generously provided by the QCoal Foundation.

Ashlee Browning has been named the 10th annual recipient of the QCoal Foundation Scholarship, which provides a James Cook University student from regional or remote Queensland with $10,000 each year for three years, helping to ease the financial burden of tertiary education.

QCoal Foundation CEO Sylvia Bhatia expressed pride in reaching this significant milestone in the Foundation’s decade-long partnership with JCU. “This year marks ten years of the QCoal Foundation Scholarship and we are delighted to be supporting another impressive student from regional Queensland,” Ms Bhatia said.

Hailing from the farming town of Tolga on the Atherton Tablelands, Ashlee is passionate about seeing education access and pathways for regional Queenslanders expand. With a strong desire to be a role model for future generations, she embodies the spirit of resilience and ambition. Ms Bhatia shared, “Ashlee’s application really resonated with us, especially her appreciation and understanding of the challenges facing regional and remote communities and the importance of building community resilience. Ashlee’s perspective showed understanding and genuine interest and commitment to that resilience – which aligns with QCoal Foundation’s overall goal.”

Ashlee, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geology at JCU, was overjoyed to receive the scholarship. “I was very excited to learn I had been selected. I was over the moon,” she said. “The scholarship has already helped to pay for my relocation and accommodation in Townsville and has eased the burden of needing to work as much, which means that I can focus on my studies.”

(Ashlee Browning, the 2025 QCoal Foundation Scholarship Recipient)

Over the past decade, the QCoal Foundation has supported 19 outstanding regional Queenslanders through a combination of the $30,000 Scholarships and additional bursaries. During this time, it has become increasingly evident that investing in regional talent not only supports individual aspirations but also contributing to the prosperity and vitality of regional Queensland.

Since its inception in 2015, the QCoal Foundation Scholarship has invested $322,500 in shaping the future leaders of regional Queensland through tertiary education at James Cook University. The Foundation’s commitment extends beyond graduation, supporting recipients as they advance in their careers. Many past recipients have gone on to make significant contributions to regional and remote communities, highlighting the lasting impact of the Foundation’s support beyond academic achievement.

The QCoal Foundation Scholarship remains a key initiative in supporting students from regional and remote Queensland to pursue tertiary education at James Cook University. Each year, a new $30,000 scholarship is awarded. To learn more click here