MS Go for Gold Scholarships provide one-off grants to follow a personal dream.
If you’re living with multiple sclerosis and need support to help achieve your dream, an MS Go for Gold Scholarship can help.
Maybe you want to explore your creative side and make art or learn a new hobby, further your education, change careers or kickstart a business idea. Maybe you’re interested in living well by participating in wellbeing activities or purchasing equipment that will have a positive impact on your daily life.
As Lydia, a past recipient of the MS Go for Gold Scholarship said:
Lydia, past recipient of the MS Go for Gold ScholarshipThe Go for Gold Scholarship doesn’t have to be an extravagant dream. It can be for everyday wishes…my dream was to study Italian.
There are 25 scholarships available every year, valued up to $2,000 each with categories including:
No project, dream, goal or hobby is too big or too small.
People have applied for many different reasons; from gym memberships to help maintain their physical wellbeing, to spending quality time with family members on a memorable trip, to kick-starting a new business idea and everything in between.
If you need more inspiration on what last year’s recipients used their MS Go for Gold Scholarship for, you can watch the virtual award ceremony or read their stories.
Applications are open until 5pm, Wednesday 13 September.
1. The application form has been completed in full via the online application form, or a paper form mailed to 54 Railway Road, Blackburn VIC 3130 and received by 5:00pm on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
2. The application clearly identifies which of the following categories are being applied for:
3. The application clearly describes a dream that the person living with multiple sclerosis wants to achieve and how the scholarship will help them to achieve it.
4. The application clearly identifies how achieving the dream will have a positive impact on the lives of not only the applicant, but their networks as well.
5. A focus on the long-term benefits will be helpful. These benefits may relate to physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health and wellbeing.
6. The application clearly explains how the person with multiple sclerosis will use the scholarship funds to achieve their dream. Whilst the application is not means tested, identifying the economic need for the financial support will be beneficial.
7. The application includes all the required/relevant supporting information.
8. The applicant has adhered to the word limit per question (approximately 500 words).
*Please note, applications for equipment that will assist with the day- to- day management of multiple sclerosis do not fit the criteria for a Go for Gold Scholarship. Applications for equipment will be forwarded to the MS Connect team.
The judging panel consists of five assessors representing all states (Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) and will include:
All applications will be assessed against the above selection criteria.
Please make sure to read and understand the Terms and Conditions for the Go for Gold Scholarship.
It’s all thanks to the generous fundraisers and supporters of the MS Mega Challenge events.
The MS Mega Challenge began as a swim under the brand MS 24 Hour Mega Swim, founded in 2001 at a Fitzroy swimming pool led by Paralympian, Carol Cooke AM.
The program has since rebranded and expanded to 16 swims across the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and has grown to include squash, racquetball and badminton – with more sports coming soon.
As well as funding the MS Go for Gold Scholarships, MS Mega Challenge events also fund our Financial Assistance Programs.
If you:
• Have a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis by a neurologist and;
• live in either Tasmania, Victoria, NSW or the ACT and;
• have not received an MS Go for Gold Scholarship in the last 2 years and;
• are an existing client, or willing to register as a client, with MS Plus (MSL).
Yes, you may apply for a MS Go for Gold Scholarship in 2023.
Please note: If you are not an existing MS Plus client, by applying, you agree to contact from the Plus Connect team to register as a client with MS Plus.
If you have received an MS Go for Gold Scholarship in 2021 or 2022, unfortunately you are not eligible to apply again this year; however if you received a scholarship prior to this, you are now eligible to apply again.
All applicants who have previously applied for a scholarship and were unsuccessful are welcome to apply again.
Either online or via paper form (applications open Monday 10 July 2023).
All applications must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
Please only submit a paper application form if you are unable to submit an online application.
Please mail the completed application form to be received by:
5pm, Wednesday 13 September 2023, mailed to:
ATT: Go for Gold Scholarships
MS Plus
54 Railway Road, Blackburn VIC 3130
What you can apply for is vast, but your dream or goal should align with one of the three categories which are described below (To improve your chance of success, remember that Go For Gold scholarships are to enable winners to live a dream, rather than cover living or medical costs):
Please refer to the Selection Criteria and consider previous scholarship winners’ application and dreams for inspiration.
*Please note, applications for equipment that will assist with the day- to- day management of multiple sclerosis do not fit the criteria for a Go for Gold Scholarship. Applications for equipment will be forwarded to the MS Connect team.
If you applied online, you will receive an automatically generated email notifying you the completed application has been received.
If you applied by mail using a paper application form, you will receive a letter that your application has been received.
All applications received by the closing date are submitted to the Go for Gold Judging Panel for assessment.
Once the judging panel has completed the judging process, all applicants will be advised on the outcome of their application.
*Please note: if your application was not successful, we will contact you to let you know the outcome.
In 2023 you will be invited to attend a virtual presentation to receive your award. The presentation will be in October, and we are very keen to have all recipients attend if possible
Your scholarship funds will be deposited into your nominated bank account within 7 days of the virtual presentation ceremony.
MS Go for Gold Scholarships are awarded in good faith.
You are strongly encouraged to use your scholarship to fulfil the dream outlined in your application, and it is recommended you use your grant within twelve months of receiving it.
Please note: Your MS Go for Gold story may be used in various communications, therefore you may be contacted by the MS Marketing and Communications team and asked to share your experience and report back on your progress.
Email [email protected] or call our Supporter Engagement Team on 1300 733 690 for more information.
Please enjoy stories from our 25 winners of the 2021 Go for Gold Scholarship.
