“I decided to apply for the Barker Maritime Scholarship to support my plan to further my TAFE NSW maritime studies,” Nik Payne says.

Nik was a commercial tug boat captain for five years. Now, he is an officer on one of the biggest container ships in the world, sailing between Singapore, Malaysia, China and Korea.

“The scholarship was the next stepping stone needed to further my career to become a Master Mariner Unlimited, which is the pinnacle qualification in the Merchant Navy to becoming an Unlimited Captain,” Nik says.

“It’s a fantastic award and I feel really fortunate to have achieved it. I would encourage anyone in the industry who is eligible to apply for it.”

Nik has the following advice for scholarship applicants: “Take the time to apply, write down your goals of where you want to be in five years, and formulate your cover letter based around that. Be realistic, but aim high.”

The Barker Maritime Scholarship is a Hunter TAFE Foundation scholarship established in 2008 by the late Don Barker and the Barker family. It encourages people employed in the maritime industry to further their education at TAFE NSW and participate in professional development that will help advance their career.

What about you?

You deserve the opportunity to explore your talents and fulfill your potential. Create a better future for yourself through education and training. Every year TAFE NSW awards hundreds of scholarships to our students, so make this year your year. We have scholarships available year-round, so have a go!

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