Star student returns to Council

Local girl and university student, Claudia Nothdurft, has received a well-earned financial boost toward her tertiary studies, being recently awarded an academic scholarship valued at $22,500.

The Dalby local and Griffith University student, now based in Brisbane, successfully applied to the George Alexander Foundation Scholarship earlier this year.

Claudia was assessed on key criteria including academic performance, leadership potential and community involvement.

When she comes home for semester breaks, you can find Claudia working in the Human Resources department at Western Downs Regional Council’s Corporate Office in Dalby.

Claudia was one of seven graduating local students to receive the Western Downs Community Spirit Bursary last year. The Bursary, awarded for character both in and out of the classroom, provides recipients with $1,000 to cover course-related fees and materials.

The Bursary also guarantees paid work experience across Council offices and facilities during university breaks each year.

Claudia, who is currently in her first year of a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, says her scholarship win was a pleasant surprise.

“To actually be named for the scholarship was amazing,” she said.

“I know it was a tough competition and I was fortunate enough to be chosen from hundreds of applications from across the state.

Although Human Resources differs from Claudia’s chosen field of study, she’s thankful for the opportunity at Council.

“It’s definitely a stress-reliever to know that I have a job waiting for me back at home between trimesters,” she said.

“The experience of working for Council is great and I’m able to give back to the community that I’ve called home for my entire life.

“Working in local government is building my transferrable skills — effective communication, teamwork and flexibility is essential to the work I’m doing now and will help me in the future too.

Mayor Paul McVeigh said that Bursaries offered by Council open pathways for our region’s youth.

“Being able to award the Western Downs Regional Council Community Spirit Bursary at the end of the year is always a privilege,” he said.

“To me, the work experience element of the bursary is most important — we’re keeping our bright young people in the region and connected to their communities.

“In fact, a number of our staff who were former bursary students have now secured part-time work with Council while continuing their studies.

“This achievement demonstrates what a hard-working, intelligent and community-minded young person Claudia is, and what an asset she is to our Council.

— Ends —

Media Contact:

Madison Imhoff l Communications Officer l 0419 940 846