Cobar’s Chad Buckman awarded Origin Energy Scholarship

Cobar’s Chad Buckman has won the 2023 Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indigenous scholarship to help study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree at the University of NSW, Sydney.

The Dean of UNSW Engineering Professor Stephen Foster presented students with their scholarships at an official event last Wednesday evening at the University of NSW.

Head of the Origin Energy Foundation Michelle Zahra said the scholarship program was intended to address the underrepresentation of First Nations peoples in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) based careers.

“Chad Buckman has shown excellent leadership and academic success throughout his high school years.

“That success, combined with his community mindedness and passion for engineering makes us so proud for him to be named this year’s Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indigenous Scholarship recipient,” Ms Zahra said.

“First Nations Australians were our first scientists and our first engineers and STEM careers are the careers of the future.”

She praised Chad’s outstanding achievements to date and said they look forward to supporting him with his studies and following his career journey.

A Kamilaroi man, 19 year old Chad’s interest in mechanical engineering started at an early age.

Unlike many other children his age, Chad didn’t grow up playing video games.

Instead, he spent his time building things –from LEGO to cubbies and BMX tracks in the garden.

Chad achieved outstanding academic success in the 2022 HSC, was a Boarder Vice-Captain and Dux of 2022 at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School and is listed on the HSC Honour Roll for both Engineering Studies and Mathematics Advanced.

He has also won numerous academic and leadership awards.

Additionally, his community-minded spirit has seen him take part in many local initiatives with not-for-profits.

Chad is in his first year of the four year degree.

“The dream is to work in Formula 1,” Chad told The Cobar Weekly.

“I think it’s the pinnacle of engineering, designing the cars.

“Although I still haven’t decided if I want to leap into that with two feet but it’s definitely an option or a career path that would be exciting nonetheless,” he said.

“Engineering could take me anywhere, all over the world. I could end up in a mining town, we’ll see how we go.”

He said the full residential scholarship has helped him “tremendously” and enabled him the opportunity to study at UNSW, his university of choice, which Chad said has the best engineering program.

The Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indigenous Scholarships program was established in 2017 with a $5 million gift to the University of NSW to support First Nations students in pursuing a career in STEM.

Chad is the eighth student to receive support through the program, which forms part of the Origin Energy Foundation’s philanthropic grants program supporting Australian nonprofit organisations that use education to help young people to reach their potential.

Cobar’s Chad Buckman is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree at the University of NSW and was last week announced as the recipient of the 2023 Origin Energy Foundation Grant King Indigenous scholarship. Chad is pictured at the UNSW’s presentation with Grant King and Head of Origin Energy Foundation Michelle Zahra. ▪ Photo contributed