Female pilot wins RAAF scholarship

The Australia Women Pilots' Association (AWPA) has announced Jasmine Morris of Healesville, Victoria, as the 2014 recipient of the Royal Australian Air Force sponsored $7000 Navigation Component Scholarship.

Ms Morris was delighted to accept the award.

“I am so excited to be given this opportunity by Air Force. The scholarship will help me pursue my future career in aviation,” she said

In addition to her fixed wing aviation studies, Ms Morris is a second year para-medicine student and hopes to one day fuse her aviation and medical interests.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO congratulated Ms Morris on her achievement.

“I heartily congratulate Jasmine for her outstanding efforts in the pursuit of expanding her aviation knowledge and skills. The Air Force Navigation Component Scholarship is intended to encourage young women to pursue flying careers by helping them with training costs. This scholarship is an example of Air Force’s commitment to gender diversity,” AIRMSHL Brown said.

Air Force has several programs to assist women who choose an aviation career as a pilot. In addition to the AWPA scholarship, entry to the Graduation Pilot Scheme (GPS) is open to women who are undertaking a Bachelor of Aviation (BAv) at selected universities.

There are no restrictions on the employment of females in the Air Force and women are eligible to fly all aircraft in the Air Force fleet.

The Air Force sponsored AWPA training scholarship is available to women aged between 15 and 27 years who wish to pursue an aviation career as a pilot. Further information and applications forms are available from the Australian Women Pilots’ Association website www.awpa.org.au. Applications close 31 January 2015.

Media note:
Imagery will be available at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20143093

Media contacts:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999
Regional Manager Public Affairs Victoria - Kate Kennedy 0477 706 009