Four young Moranbah locals are stepping into university life this year with strong community support behind them after being named recipients of the 2025 Moranbah Community Scholarship.
Established in 1997 by the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) Goonyella Riverside Lodge, the scholarship was created to help local students pursue tertiary study, particularly those from non-mining families. Nearly three decades on, it remains one of Moranbah’s quiet success stories.
Funding comes from union members at the Goonyella Riverside and Peak Downs lodges, who contribute a dollar a week from their union dues. Over time, that modest weekly gesture has grown into a significant community investment. With additional backing from other unions, Isaac Regional Council, Moranbah Community Workers Club and local businesses, the program has delivered more than $2.2 million in scholarships.
For regional families, sending a child away to study is a major financial commitment. Rent, travel, textbooks and living costs can make university feel out of reach. National data continues to highlight the divide between city and country when it comes to higher education attainment, reinforcing the importance of programs that help bridge the gap.
Each year, a small number of scholarships are awarded to Year 12 students with a parent or guardian living in Moranbah. Applicants are assessed through written submissions and interviews, with funding designed to help cover the real costs of studying away from home.
This year’s recipients are pursuing diverse career paths.
Pippa James has been awarded a four-year scholarship valued at $24,000 to study a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Bachelor of Wildlife Science at the University of Queensland. Inspired by a deep interest in Australian wildlife, she hopes to work as an ecologist after graduation. She said access to higher education from a rural area can be challenging, particularly when it requires moving away, and described the scholarship support as vital in helping her achieve her goals without added financial burden.
Naiya Luczynski received a three-year scholarship worth $18,000 to undertake a Bachelor of Animation at Griffith University’s Brisbane South Bank campus. With a long-standing passion for drawing and creating characters, she said animation is both time-consuming and rewarding. Having been largely self-taught, she is looking forward to developing new skills and exploring different techniques and mediums. The scholarship, she said, will ease living costs and allow her to focus more fully on her studies.
Jenna Croce secured a four-year scholarship worth $24,000 to complete a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at CQUniversity in Rockhampton. Growing up in Moranbah shaped her decision to pursue teaching, having seen both the impact of teacher shortages and the difference a passionate educator can make in a small community. She hopes to return to a regional town to teach and help fill gaps in rural education. The scholarship has already helped cover subject costs and textbooks, reducing financial pressure and allowing her to concentrate on her degree.
Tahj Pick was granted a three-year scholarship valued at $18,000 to study a Bachelor of Science at QUT’s Garden Point campus, with a strong interest in meteorology. Moving from a small regional town to the city is not easy, he said, but the scholarship provides both financial assistance and a sense of connection to home. He described it as an opportunity that helps regional students pursue ambitions that once felt out of reach.
These four join 18 others already partway through their degrees, taking the number of Moranbah students currently supported to 22. From those small weekly union contributions a program has grown that continues to change lives, one Moranbah student at a time.
Image caption: Mayor Kelly Vea Vea, Naiya Luczynski, Wayne Goulevitch, Jenna Croce, Pippa James, Tajh Pick, Simon West and Jason Noonan.
