Fitzroy Partnership for River Health established the HeART of the Basin Scholarship in 2016.

The $3,000 scholarship celebrates the contribution of Emeritus Professor Barry Hart who was a founding member of the Partnership. In fact it was following recommendations by Emeritus Professor Hart, that the Partnership evolved. The Hart report was prepared after the Fitzroy Basin floods in 2008 floods and a subsequent cumulative impact assessment study also highlighted the need for an integrated monitoring and reporting system for water quality in the Fitzroy Basin. In 2016, following the resignation of Professor Hart from the inaugural Independent Science Panel Chair position, the Partnership created the HeART of the Basin Award to recognise river champions and to honour his contribution.

The scholarship is open to research students at CQUniversity studying Honours, Masters by Research or PhD to progress their learnings in a research topic relating to improving waterway health and/or understanding and use of waterways in the Fitzroy Basin. It is expected the scholarship will be used by the chosen applicant for research expenses.

2023 marks the seventh year the Scholarship was awarded.

Recipients and their research areas include:

• 2016 – PhD Candidate Evan Chua for support of his research titled ‘Development of toolbox for fish health assessment in aquatic ecosystems associated with coal and gas industries in the Fitzroy Basin‘. Read more about Evan’s research by clicking here.
• 2017/18  – Masters research candidate Julie-Ann Malan to support her research titled ‘Off Stream watering points for cattle as a method of riparian restoration’. Read more about Julie-Ann’s research by clicking here.
• 2019 – Honours candidate Tiffany Brown to support her research titled ‘Quantification of microplastics in public tap water of Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast’. Read more about Tiffany’s research by clicking here.
• 2021 – Honours candidate Natalie Wolfe-Rackemann to support her research titled ‘Prevalence of microplastics in freshwater aquatic plants’.  Read more about Natalie’s research by clicking here.
• 2022 –  Masters research candidate Rachel Bryan to support her research titled ‘Investigating the contribution of groundwater to surface waters and riparian vegetation in a subtropical river catchment’. Detail on Rachel’s research will be made available following completion of her studies.
• 2023 – Honours research candidate Mariah-Lee Jones to support her research titled ‘Freshwater mussels within the Fitzroy Basin – assessing spatial and temporal distribution.’ Detail on Mariah-Lee’s research will be made available following completion of her studies.

Scholarship value: $3,000

Study Region: Rockhampton or distance. Research focus to be within the Fitzroy Basin region – see map here.

Application Form: Review and download the HeART of the Basin Scholarship Application Form by clicking here.

(Please note: Applications for the 2024 Scholarship will open on 1 January 2024. Please consider your eligibility to apply and submit an application as soon as possible.) 

For more details on eligibility and selection criteria please visit – https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/prepare/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/745642/heart-of-the-basin-scholarship