Scholarship and Bursary Destinations

Testimonials from Past Recipients

Beh Wattenberg

2020 Bursary Winner Teacher

“The experience was so great, I learnt a lot and have been sharing the knowledge in all my places of work”As part of the Queensland Overseas Foundation Scholarship, Beh toured Signify in Germany, gaining firsthand insight into cutting-edge lighting technologies. Highlights included Nature Connect, a Digital Skylight system designed for wellbeing in work and care environments, and INTERACT, an advanced, cloud-connected lighting control system.The visit also showcased Signify’s leadership in sustainability through energy-efficient solutions, 3D-printed lighting, and smart emergency systems. Key takeaways included Europe’s rapid progress in climate adaptation, the global scale of the lighting industry, and the enduring value of face-to-face connections in business.From innovations like Indoor Positioning and LiFi to specialised retail lighting concepts, the experience reinforced the exciting future of intelligent and sustainable lighting design.

Wayne Costain

2024 Bursary Winner

“Thank you for this incredible opportunity. Your generous contribution has enabled me to expand my skills and knowledge, immerse myself in global trends, and build valuable connections with industry leaders from around the world.”Wayne attended an intensive training camp on mastering water-based ink techniques, significantly enhancing his screen printing skills while advancing sustainable practices. The hands-on sessions focused on key aspects such as ink handling, curing temperatures, screen hydration, and environmentally friendly alternatives to plastisol inks.The program also covered advanced screen setup and maintenance, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, including waste reduction, efficient ink management, and workflow optimisation.As a result of this experience, Wayne has applied to become a FESPA Future Leader and is a candidate for the ProPrint “Printers 50” Awards, recognising his growing leadership and commitment to innovation in the print industry.

Mostyn Higgs

2013 QOF Scholarship Recipient

“Although I strongly believe Australia is an industry leader in construction, there is so much that we can learn from international markets. Dubai is well known for iconic projects, and I’m excited to learn different methods and ways of building to bring back to the team here in Queensland.”Mostyn completed a Certificate III in Carpentry at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech and a Certificate IV in Civil Construction at RudTek. He used his scholarship to travel to Dubai where he has been working on major infrastructure projects including his current position as Construction Manager for Brookfield-Multiplex working on the iconic building ‘The Opus’. Mostyn has found that despite facing a number of challenges while on his scholarship, he has gained an enormous amount of experience, not only in construction but also in management.

Amiee Kahl

2010 QOF Scholarship Recipient

“I honestly believe that winning the QOF scholarship got me where I am today – it gave me the confidence to take that leap overseas. This was something I always wanted to do but probably would not have done without the support and encouragement of the QOF and my mentors.”After winning a QOF Scholarship, Amiee moved to London and secured employment with London street-wear label ‘Lazy Oaf’ as their Production Co-ordinator and later Product Development Manager. During her time with Lazy Oaf, she travelled to Hong Kong and China regularly and visited Portugal, Las Vegas and South Korea for trade shows and market research. In July 2015 she was offered the role of Design and Production Manager with Brisbane based womenswear label Maiocchi and in September 2015 she returned to Brisbane to continue her exciting career in fashion.

Richard Ousby

2007 QOF Scholarship Recipient

“To young people thinking about taking an international work and study experience I say – do it – take a risk. The experience is invaluable for not just your professional life but your personal life too. It can be scary but it is an endeavour worth taking.”Richard has had a remarkable career including his significant appointment as Executive Chef for Stockhouse Restaurants in Brisbane and Melbourne. After being awarded a QOF Scholarship, he travelled to the United Kingdom where he worked at the famous three Michelin star establishment, Waterside Inn on the River Thames in Bray. On his return to Queensland in 2011, he was awarded the prestigious Electrolux Australian Young Chef of the Year Award, a year later, the Aqua Panna and S. Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year Award in Venice, Italy.

Past QOF Global Connections Bursary Recipients

The QOF Global Connections Bursary was first awarded in 2014 and since that time our Bursaries have supported vocational education and training professionals from a broad spectrum of training sectors to attend conferences, study tours and work-shadowing experiences all over the world.

2025 BURSARY NOW CLOSED

Year of Award	Name	Employer and Position	Destination	Activity
2024	Wayne Costain	Print Production Manager	Fort Worth – Texas USA	Screenmaking Training Camp, Advanced Automation Workshop, Waterbase Training Camp, Impressions Tradeshow, Long Beach
2023	Craig Jones	University of Queensland apprentice trainer	Overseas online courses/conferences/Lectures	Overseas online courses/conferences/Lectures Horses Inside Out
2022	Ronelle Sheehan	TAFE Queensland Teacher Health	Brisbane	Emotional Intelligence seminar
2020	Andrea Smith	Music Business Lecturer and Training Manager	Liverpool UK	Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA)
2020	Liz Waters	English as Second Language (ESL) and Learning Support Teacher	Devonport Tasmania	Attendance at the Domestic Violence Alert Workshop
2020	Beh Wattenberg	Teacher TAFE QLD	Frankfurt Germany	At Light + Building industry conference
2020	Caroline Matthews	Tafe Teacher TCH9	Manchester England UK	IATEFL International Annual Conference and Exhibition
2019	Marcello Riotto	Operations Manager MTA Institute	Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, USA	Participation in the SEMA Trade show
2018	Ricki-lee Bernhardt-Turpin	Drama Excellence and Creative Industries teacher at Kawana Waters State College	United Kingdom	Professional Development Tour UK
2017	Judy Hoskins	Peak Training & Consulting	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Attendance and presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health
2017	Cassandra McIntyre	Cairns School of Distance Education	China, Hong Kong	Tourism Confucius Institute Study Tour
2015	Mr Paul Marshall	TAFE Queensland SkillsTech, Teacher – Electrotechnology (Refrigeration & Air Conditioning)	Vietnam – Ha Noi, Than Hoa, Da Nang, HCM	Study tour of Vietnam as a volunteer English tutor
2016	Mr Jedd Sparks	Howell Davies Welding	Atlanta, USA	Attendance at the FABTECH Exhibition
2016	Mr Carl Balke	TAFE Queensland SkillsTech, Lead Vocational Teacher Refrigeration and Air Conditioning	Nuremburg, Germany	International exhibition for the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Ventilation and Heat Pumps sectors
2015	Mr Lewis Moore	TAFE Queensland, Gold Coast; Teacher / Program Developer	Singapore and Malaysia	Fact finding visit to Singapore Polytechnic Institute
2015	Ms Cassandra Baker	TAFE Queensland Brisbane (Southbank), Workplace Training Officer – Bakery	Villepinte, France	Attendance at the Europain – International Baking Trade show
2015	Ms Julie Scott	Simple Solutions Training and Consulting, Industry Trainer and Assessor	Tauranga, New Zealand	Attendance at the National Tertiary Learning & Teaching Conference 2015
2014	Ms Jenny Field	Evocca College, Advisor to the Board	Helsinki, Finland and St Petersburg, Russia	Attendance and participation at the International Vocational Education Training Association Conference

Past QOF Scholarship Recipients

2025 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW CLOSED

Since 1976 Queensland Overseas Foundation has assisted more than 110 young Queenslanders to travel overseas and advance their career through work experience and other professional development activities.

Scholarships have been awarded to fashion designers, butchers, sheet metal workers, auto mechanics, electricians, chefs and more!

These opportunities have benefited the individuals in their own career aspirations as well as their local community and Queensland as a whole through deeper global connections and the new knowledge and skills returned to the State.

Year	Name	Trade	Origin	Destination
2017	Ben Nedwich	Business Administration	Bundaberg
2017	Justin Wade	Butcher	Allora	United Kingdom
2017	Adrian Clark	Bricklayer	Rocksberg	United Kingdom
2016	Annaleese Cochrane	Fashion Design	Alexandra Hills	Canada
2016	Charl Pierre du Plessis	Diesel Fitting	Mount Nathan
2015	Russell Routledge	Sheet Metal	Redlands	Canada
2015	Timo Pretorius	Electrician	Gladstone
2015	Adelaide Pollock	Fashion Design	Brisbane	Hong Kong
2015	Byron Allsopp	Meat Retailing	Meringandan	United Kingdom
2013	Richard Pascoe	Cookery	Highfields	Manchester, England
2013	Rhiannon Pittard	Bakery	Mount Sheridan	London
2013	Mostyn Higgs	Construction	Albany Creek	Dubai
2012	Rhys Walsh-Tindall	IT & Network Support	Chinchilla	Singapore
2012	Jessica Parker	Business Services	Bundaberg	London
2011	Simon Ryan	Electro Technology Systems Electrician	Toowoomba	England
2011	Sheridan Vigers	Make Up Artist	Nudgee	England
2011	Caitlyn Paustain	Fashion Design	Seven Hills	England
2011	Ashley Naumann	Jeweller	Caloundra	Italy/UK
2011	Phoebe Younger	Fashion Design	Toowoomba	England
2010	Amiee Kahl	Fashion Design	Redcliffe	England
2010	Megan Todd	Fashion Design	Helensvale	England
2010	Nicholas Petridis	Landscape Architecture	Morningside	Scotland
2010	Geordan Bauer	Meat Retailing	Bundaberg	Germany
2009	Daniel McGaw	Electro Technology Systems Electrician	Toowoomba	Ireland
2009	Leo Primus	Project Management	Gold Coast	Malaysia
2009	Abigail Fincham	Fashion Design	Graceville	England
2008	Aysha Oliver	Fashion Design	Morningside	England
2008	Tammy Cole	Pastry Chef	Regents Park	Scotland
2008	Cassandra Blyth	Commis Chef	Townsville	England
2007	Jessica Dowdle	Hospitality Management	Noosa Heads	England
2007	Stephanie Christiansen	Hospitality Management	Bardon	Canada
2007	Joshua Stemm	Light Vehicle Automotive Mechanic	Aspley	Dubai
2006	Ranu Obaha	Hospitality Operations	Yeerongpilly	England
2005	Richard Ousby	Commercial Cookery	Wilston	England
2004	Cheryl Callender	Commercial Cookery	Cairns	France
2003	Shaune Achurch	Greenkeeper	Bunderberg	USA
2003	Jacinta Olde-Byvank	Interior Design and Decoration	Marsden	England
2003	Ryan Malsem	Refrigeration and Air Conditioning	Cairns	Europe
2002	Elizabeth Weatherhead	Hairdresser	Rochedale	England
2002	Luke Hinton	Carpenter	Yeppoon	Indonesia/Peru
2001	Daniel Chritchlow	Chef	Gold Coast	England
2001	Carla Uebergang	Interior Design and Decoration	Loganlea	England
2001	Paul Nesbit	Panel Beater	Cairns	Canada
2000	David Whitrod	Refrigeration and Air Conditioning	New Farm	England
1999	Rory Little	Fitter and Turner	Rochedale	Canada
1999	Michael Davis	Fitter and Turner	Tully	South Africa
1998	Narissa Ruddick	Hairdresser	Townsville	England
1998	Les Airs	Elecrical Fitter/Mechanic	Kingaroy	Europe
1997	Jay Morrison	Plumber and Gas Fitter	Moura	Canada
1997	Cassandra Baker	Pastry Cook	Stafford Heights	England
1997	Paul Carruthers	Instrument Fitter	Childers	Canada
1996	Brian Coleman	Sheet Metal Worker	Greenslopes	Canada
1995	Benjamin Tracy	Jeweller	Mudgeeraba	England
1995	Sarah Cooper	Cook	Oxenford	Switzerland

Year	Name	Trade	Origin	Destination
1995	Peter Burton	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Mount Isa	England
1994	Nathan Van De Belt	Cook	Mount Coolum	South Korea
1993	Rebecca Chadwick	Haidresser	Gold Coast	England
1993	Scott Wightman	Heavy Vehicle Mechanic	Jimboomba	USA
1993	Angelo Leonforte	Cook	Hamilton Island	Italy
1993	Juania McDermott	Cook	Brisbane	England
1992	Allison Andrea	Graphics Reproducer	Kingaroy	USA
1992	Sandra Smith	Hairdresser	Taroom	England
1992	Sean Hill	Heavy Vehicle Mechanic	Brisbane	USA
1992	Brendt Halliday	Moulder	Brisbane	Scotland
1991	Andrew McDicken	Refrigeration Mechanic	Jimboomba	USA
1991	Aaron Maree	Pastry Cook	Coorparoo	England
1991	Allison Achilles	Cook	Camp Hill	England
1991	Stanton Thomsen	Fitter and Turner	Brisbane	USA
1990	Samantha Milosevic	Fashion Designer	Brisbane	England
1990	Lachlan Riddel	Motor Mechanic	Lower Beechmont	England
1989	Dianne Clark	Graphic Artist	Brisbane	England
1989	Grant Behrendorff	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Cairns	Canada
1988	Cameron Haylock	Sheet Metal Worker	Brisbane	England
1988	Dwayne McClintock	Fitter and Turner	Rocklea	Canada
1988	Sandra Graham	Hairdresser	Cairns	Canada/USA
1988	Stephen Clark	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Clermont	England
1987	Kim Langford	Optical Mechanic	Toowoomba	Canada
1987	Gerard Carter	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Mackay	Canada
1987	Brett Otto	Fitter and Turner	Bunderberg	Germany/UK
1987	Bruce Parkes	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Townsville	USA
1986	Kevin Rayfield	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Blackwater	USA
1986	Paul Vonhoff	Carpenter and Joiner
1986	Scott Lobston	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic
1985	Glenn Frettingham	Motor Mechanic	Brisbane
1985	Stephen Bower	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Gladstone
1984	Geoffrey Hupfield	Signwriter	Gold Coast	USA
1983	Toimi Puusarri	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Mount Isa	Canada/USA
1983	Gordon Van Der Est	Motor Mechanic	Beenleigh
1981	Ray Carnie	Watchmaker	Brisbane
1981	Bruce Irwin	Graphics Reproducer	Brisbane
1981	Paul Walsh	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Moranbah
1980	Carey Henry	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Mount Isa	Canada
1980	Lindsey Weber	Bread Baker	Toowoomba
1980	Gordon Osborne	Radio and TV Technician
1980	William Kraft	Carpenter	Hervey Bay	England
1980	Albert Turner	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Gladstone
1979	Mark Tierney	Electrical Fitter/Mechanic	Brisbane
1979	Stewart Shannon	Radio and TV Mechanic	Toowoomba
1979	Christopher Hocking	Lithographic Camera Operator	Brisbane
1979	Anthony Dutton	Composing Motor Mechanic	Cairns
1979	Peter Fahey	Cook	Kangaroo Point	Switzerland
1978	Myles Breitkrewtz	Motor Mechanic	Moura	USA
1978	Ian Ward	Sheet Metal Worker	Brisbane	England
1978	Mark Neale	Motor Mechanic	Karalee	USA
1977	John Aquilina	Electrician	Brisbane
1977	Eric Organ-Moore	Refrigeration Mechanic	Brisbane	England
1976	Ross Patrick	Electrician	Brisbane	USA
1976	Walter Billingham	Fitter and Turner	Cairns	England