EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Social Security (Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship) Determination 2000
Section 24A of the Social Security Act 1991 (the Act) allows the Minister to determine that a scholarship, or a class of scholarships, are to be approved scholarships if awarded outside Australia and not intended to be used wholly or partly to assist recipients with living expenses. The Minister’s determination, although it is not a disallowable instrument, is required under subsection 24A(2) of the Act to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the determination is made.
The Social Security (Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship) Determination 2000 provides that any Ambassadorial Scholarship that does not contain any component for living expenses, and awarded by the Rotary Foundation is an approved scholarship.
The Rotary Foundation currently award three types of Ambassadorial Scholarship, namely, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships, Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships and Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships.
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, and some educational supplies up to US$25,000 or its equivalent. Academic-Year Scholarships are the most common type of scholarship offered; nearly 1,000 were awarded for study in 2000-01. As well some room and board expenses may be covered. A scholarship with provision for room and board expenses, would not be an approved scholarship.
Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either two or three years of degree‑oriented study in another country. A flat grant of US$12,000 or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward the costs of a degree program. These scholarships are offered mainly by Rotary districts in Japan and Korea; 150 were awarded for study in 2000-01.
Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements, up to US$12,000 and US$19,000 respectively. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.
In 1998-99, a total of 65 countries sponsored scholars to study in another nation. Australian Rotarians sponsored 19 scholars in 1998-99 and hosted 59 scholars during this time.
The Social Security (Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship) Determination 2000 commenced on the date it was signed.