Not every scholarship for veteran descendants comes from an RSL branch or a government department. Twelve corporations, professional associations, and community-funded organisations are quietly putting money behind the education of veterans' children and grandchildren - and they're doing it through the same AVCAT application that covers everything else.
Defence contractors like Downer Defence and Airbus fund multiple scholarships. A coffee company donates a portion of every sale. A named memorial scholarship honours a specific individual. A healthcare company joined the network in 2026. And one state-specific sponsor gives Tasmanian applicants a dedicated opportunity that no other corporate sponsor provides.
This guide profiles every corporate sponsor in the AVCAT network.
How it works
All 12 corporate scholarships listed here are administered through AVCAT. You don't apply to individual corporations. You submit one AVCAT application, and AVCAT automatically considers you for every scholarship you're eligible for - including all corporate sponsors, all RSL and ESO sponsors, and the Long Tan Bursaries if applicable.
Each corporate scholarship is worth $4,000 to $6,000 per year for up to three years (total up to $18,000).
Application window: 18 August to 31 October each year Apply at: avcat.org.au/scholarships
For full eligibility criteria and application details, see our AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships complete guide.
Defence industry sponsors
Several major defence contractors fund scholarships through AVCAT. These companies employ thousands of Australians and work closely with the ADF. Their investment in veteran descendant education reflects a direct connection to the defence community.
Downer Defence
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000) Scholarships available: Three per year
Downer Defence is one of the most significant corporate sponsors in the AVCAT network, funding three scholarships per year. As a major Australian defence contractor providing sustainment, training, and technology services to the ADF, Downer has a direct connection to the veteran community. Three scholarships means three separate opportunities for applicants - the most of any single corporate sponsor.
Airbus
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Airbus is a global aerospace and defence company with significant operations in Australia, including helicopter programs for the ADF. Their sponsorship through AVCAT extends their investment in the Australian defence ecosystem to the families of those who have served.
Global Defence Solutions (GDS)
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Canary Technology Solutions
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Resolute Support
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Healthcare and professional association sponsors
Dialysis Australia
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
New sponsor for 2026. Dialysis Australia's entry into the AVCAT network brings the healthcare sector into the corporate sponsor mix. As a new sponsor, the first year may see less competition from applicants who aren't yet aware of this opportunity.
NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association
Scope: National (despite the NSW name) Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Worth noting: despite being a NSW-based association, this scholarship is available nationally through AVCAT. You don't need to be in NSW or studying nursing to be eligible. The standard AVCAT eligibility criteria apply.
Mellori
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
Government and institutional sponsors
NSW Trustee & Guardian
Scope: National (despite the NSW name) Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
The NSW Trustee & Guardian is a government agency that provides trustee, estate administration, and financial management services. Like the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association, this scholarship is available nationally despite the sponsor's NSW base.
Community-funded and memorial sponsors
These sponsors stand out for their funding models. They aren't large corporations - they're community-driven organisations and memorial funds that channel resources to veteran descendant education.
3 Elements Coffee
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
3 Elements Coffee funds its AVCAT scholarship through a portion of its sales. Every cup of coffee sold contributes to the scholarship fund. This model is different from the corporate philanthropy approach used by Downer or Airbus - it's a community-funded, buy-one-support-one model where customers directly contribute to veteran descendant education with every purchase.
Roy Morris Memorial Scholarship
Scope: National Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000)
A named memorial scholarship honouring Roy Morris. Memorial scholarships carry a personal dimension - they exist so that an individual's contribution to the veteran community continues through the education of the next generation.
State-specific corporate sponsor
TNN Hobart
Scope: Tasmania Value: $4,000-$6,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to $18,000) Eligibility: Children and grandchildren of ex-serving veterans, Tasmania-based
TNN Hobart is the only state-specific corporate sponsor in the AVCAT network, and it fills an important gap. Tasmania has no state-specific RSL or ESO sponsors in AVCAT. TNN Hobart gives Tasmanian applicants a dedicated scholarship that applicants from other states can't access.
If you're Tasmania-based, this scholarship is worth highlighting. You're eligible for TNN Hobart plus all 11 national corporate sponsors plus all 10 national ESO/RSL sponsors. The single AVCAT form covers them all.
Quick reference table
| Sponsor | Scope | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|
| Downer Defence | National | 3 scholarships per year |
| Airbus | National | Aerospace and defence |
| Dialysis Australia | National | New for 2026 |
| Canary Technology Solutions | National | |
| Global Defence Solutions (GDS) | National | |
| Mellori | National | |
| Resolute Support | National | |
| NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association | National | Available nationally despite NSW name |
| NSW Trustee & Guardian | National | Available nationally despite NSW name |
| TNN Hobart | TAS | Only state-specific corporate sponsor |
| 3 Elements Coffee | National | Funded via portion of sales |
| Roy Morris Memorial | National | Named memorial scholarship |
New for 2026
Dialysis Australia joined the AVCAT corporate sponsor network in 2026. If you're applying in the 2026 round (18 August to 31 October), this is a new opportunity that previous applicants didn't have access to.
The AVCAT sponsor network grows over time. New sponsors join, and occasionally sponsors adjust or conclude their funding. Always check avcat.org.au/sponsors for the current list.
How corporate scholarships fit the broader picture
The 12 corporate sponsors sit alongside 24 RSL and ESO sponsors in the AVCAT network, bringing the total to 36+ sponsors accessible through one application.
Combined with the DVA-funded Long Tan Bursaries (also covered by the same form), the AVCAT application is the single most efficient step you can take in the veteran descendant scholarship landscape.
And it doesn't stop there. The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund operates separately with its own application (1 January to 28 February), offering $8,000 for first-year students. Legacy Australia runs its own direct support program. DVA education schemes provide government-funded support for specific circumstances.
For the full map of every program and how to apply to each, see our complete application guide.
Strengthening your application
The AVCAT application is the same form regardless of which sponsor you're hoping to be matched with. AVCAT does the matching based on your details. Your job is to provide clear, complete information.
Proof of veteran service is the foundation. Every AVCAT scholarship requires evidence that your parent or grandparent served. A decoded service record from Decode My Digger costs $59 and translates military records into plain language - service dates, postings, units, branch of service, and deployment history are all clearly laid out.
This is particularly useful when AVCAT is matching you to sponsors with branch-specific connections. Downer Defence works closely with the Army. Airbus has RAAF helicopter programs. A clear record showing your ancestor's service branch helps AVCAT make accurate matches.
State your location and study details clearly. If you're in Tasmania, you need AVCAT to see that for the TNN Hobart match. If you're studying a health-related course, that context may be relevant to sponsors like Dialysis Australia or NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association.
Next steps
- Read the AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships complete guide for full eligibility and application details
- Also check the RSL and ESO sponsors directory - they're all accessed through the same application
- Get your service records decoded for clear proof of service
- Apply at avcat.org.au/scholarships when applications open on 18 August
For the full picture of every scholarship available to veteran descendants, see our complete application guide and searchable scholarships database.
Data sourced from AVCAT. Last verified 8 June 2026. The sponsor directory changes from year to year. Verify the current list at avcat.org.au/sponsors before applying.