In 1944, a Gunaikurnai man from Victoria's Gippsland region became the first Aboriginal Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army. His name was Reginald Walter Saunders. He served in World War II and Korea, fought at Tobruk and in Greece, survived the fall of Crete as one of a handful who made it back, and returned to lead soldiers at Kapyong - one of the defining engagements of the Korean War.
Captain Reg Saunders' story is one of extraordinary service in the face of extraordinary barriers. The scholarship that carries his name exists to support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who are descendants of veterans and who plan to use their education to benefit their communities.
What the Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships are
The Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships are funded by RSL Australia and administered through AVCAT (the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust). Two scholarships are awarded each year, each worth $4,000 to $5,000.
These are specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are children or grandchildren of Australian veterans and who intend to use their skills and qualifications to contribute to their community.
The scholarships are accessed through the standard AVCAT application. You don't apply separately. When you submit your AVCAT form, you're automatically considered for the Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships if you meet the criteria, alongside every other scholarship in the AVCAT network.
Who Captain Reg Saunders was
Reginald Walter Saunders MBE was born in 1920 at Purnim, near Framlingham in western Victoria. He was a Gunaikurnai man. He grew up on the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Mission in Gippsland.
He enlisted in the AIF in April 1940 and served with the 2/7th Battalion in North Africa, Greece, and Crete. He was one of only a small number of Australians to survive the German invasion of Crete and make it back to Allied lines. After returning to Australia, he was selected for officer training and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in November 1944 - the first Aboriginal Australian to hold a commission in the Australian Army.
After WWII, Saunders re-enlisted and served in Korea with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR). He was part of the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951, where the Australian and Canadian forces held their positions against overwhelming Chinese attack - an engagement that earned the battalion a United States Presidential Unit Citation.
After leaving the Army, Saunders worked in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and was a prominent advocate for Aboriginal rights and recognition. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1971. He passed away in 1990.
The scholarship bearing his name honours both his military service and his lifelong commitment to improving conditions for Aboriginal Australians.
Who can apply
To be eligible for the Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships, you must meet three criteria:
1. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
You must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
2. Descendant of a veteran
You must be a child or grandchild of an Australian veteran. The standard AVCAT eligibility applies - the veteran must have had operational service or at least three years of continuous full-time service in the Australian Defence Force.
3. Community contribution intent
You must plan to use your skills and qualifications to benefit your community. This doesn't prescribe a specific course of study. It means you should be able to articulate how your education will contribute back to your community - whether that's through health, education, law, social work, engineering, business, or any other field.
Standard AVCAT requirements
In addition to the three criteria above, you must meet the standard AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships eligibility: enrolled in or commencing tertiary study (university or TAFE/VET), and demonstrating financial hardship. See our AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships guide for full details.
How to apply
Application method
Apply through the standard AVCAT application at avcat.org.au/scholarships. One form covers the Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships, the Long Tan Bursaries (if you're a Vietnam veteran descendant), and all AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships.
Application dates
Applications open on 18 August (Vietnam Veterans' Day) and close on 31 October (midnight AEDT) each year.
What to include
In your AVCAT application:
- Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ensure this is clearly stated in the relevant section of the form.
- Provide proof of veteran service. Service records, discharge papers, or medal entitlement records showing your parent or grandparent's ADF service. A decoded service record from Decode My Digger translates military records into plain language for $59 - clear evidence for your application.
- Describe your community contribution intent. In your personal statement, explain how you plan to use your education to benefit your community. Be specific. "I want to help my community" is less compelling than "I'm studying social work so I can return to [community] and support families navigating the child protection system."
- Include academic records and financial information as per the standard AVCAT requirements.
Value and availability
Two scholarships are awarded each year, each worth $4,000 to $5,000.
Two per year means this is a competitive scholarship. A strong application with clear proof of veteran service, clear Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity, and a specific, articulate community contribution plan will stand out.
Other Indigenous-specific scholarships for veteran descendants
The Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships aren't the only Indigenous-specific options. If you're an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descendant of a veteran, you may also be eligible for:
Calleo Indigenous Bursary (via Gallipoli Scholarship Fund)
The Calleo Indigenous Bursary is one of the 17 named bursaries within the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. It's specifically for Indigenous descendants of Australian or New Zealand veterans. Worth $8,000 per year for up to three years - a total of up to $24,000.
In 2026, six scholars are being supported through the Calleo Indigenous Bursary. This is one of the highest-value Indigenous-specific scholarships in the veteran descendant landscape.
The Calleo bursary is applied for through the GSF application (1 January to 28 February) - a completely separate form from AVCAT. You can apply to both.
Aspen Medical Foundation Bursary (via Gallipoli Scholarship Fund)
The Aspen Medical Foundation Bursary is another GSF named bursary. It targets students in health-related fields, with priority for First Nations and Pacific Islander applicants. Worth $8,000. Applied for through the GSF application.
If you're an Indigenous descendant of a veteran studying a health-related course, this bursary is specifically designed for your profile.
ABSTUDY
If you're receiving ABSTUDY (the education payment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through Centrelink), this also satisfies the means test for the AVCAT Long Tan Bursaries if you're a Vietnam veteran descendant. The programs can stack.
Building a multi-scholarship strategy
An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descendant of a veteran has access to more scholarship pathways than most applicants. Here's how they can stack.
January to February: Apply to the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. Your application is automatically considered for the Calleo Indigenous Bursary ($8,000/year, up to 3 years) and the Aspen Medical Foundation Bursary ($8,000, health-related study) alongside the main GSF scholarship.
August to October: Apply to AVCAT. Your application is automatically considered for the Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships ($4,000-$5,000), all RSL and ESO sponsors, all corporate sponsors, and the Long Tan Bursaries if applicable.
Year-round: Contact your local Legacy club if a veteran parent or partner has died or been wounded in service. Legacy Australia offers direct education support including scholarships, school costs, and mentorship.
Two applications. Two afternoons of paperwork. Access to dozens of scholarships worth thousands of dollars.
Proof of veteran service
The Captain Reg Saunders Scholarships require proof that your parent or grandparent served. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have served in every conflict Australia has been involved in - from the Boer War through to current operations. More than 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people served in WWI. The exact number in WWII isn't known, though estimates suggest more than 3,000.
Service records from the National Archives of Australia may not always include information about a veteran's Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity, as this wasn't consistently recorded (and in some cases was actively concealed to circumvent enlistment restrictions). The service record itself, combined with family knowledge, is often the most reliable evidence.
A Decode My Digger service record decode translates the military record into plain language for $59. It covers service dates, units, postings, and operational history - the evidence the scholarship application needs.
Next steps
- Confirm you meet all three criteria: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity, descendant of a veteran, and community contribution intent
- Get your service records decoded for clear proof of veteran service
- Apply at avcat.org.au/scholarships when applications open on 18 August
- Also apply to the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund in January for the Calleo Indigenous Bursary
- Contact your local Legacy club if applicable
For the full picture of every scholarship available to veteran descendants, see our complete application guide and searchable scholarships database.
Data sourced from RSL Australia and AVCAT. Last verified 8 June 2026. Verify all eligibility criteria directly with AVCAT at avcat.org.au and RSL Australia at rslaustralia.org/scholarships before applying.