Four young Aboriginal Victorians have received a $5,000 scholarship to fulfil their schooling dreams thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

The inaugural Aunty Dot Peters Award supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to complete Years 9 and 10 at a Victorian secondary school.

The $5,000 scholarship can be used to pay for schooling-related expenses such as tutoring, study supplies, IT and home office equipment, uniforms, excursions and extra-curricular activities over two years.

The 2020 recipients of the Award are:

• Travis Colson from Churchill
• Nytiesha Bushell from Darley
• Emma Tibbles from Wurruk
• Damian Walker from Sale.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gavin Jennings today presented the recipients with their awards at an event at Parliament House.

They were selected as scholarship winners by the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee from a highly competitive field.

The committee said the four students selected displayed great commitment to their education and service to their community.

The awards are named in honour of Aunty Dot Peters – a champion for reconciliation and recognition.

In honour of her father, who died in service as a prisoner of war on the Thai Burma railway, Aunty Dot initiated the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service in 2005. It is now a signature annual event for Aboriginal Victorians.