Playford Trust / Peak Iron Mines Scholarship

With the generous support of Peak Iron Mines, the Playford Trust offers up three scholarships to students entering their Honours or first, second, or third undergraduate year of mining engineering, geology, geoscience, or environmental sciences at one of South Australia’s three public universities. 

We recommend you begin your application as soon as possible and complete as much as you can this year. This allows the Trust to pass your details on to the company early.

Peak Iron Mines (Peak Iron) is a 100% Australian-owned, private company that operates two high-grade iron ore mines in the Gawler Craton area of South Australia. Additionally, Peak Iron has highly prospective exploration tenements they are exploring to potentially expand on existing iron ore operations. Currently producing approximately 2 million tonnes of product per annum, Peak Iron has a pipeline of prospects to expand to 10 million tonnes of sustainable production over a 20-year lifespan.

The paid work placement will provide the scholarship holder with the opportunity to develop skills and enhance their industry participation.

The scholarships are valued at $10,000 for one year for an Honours student and $5000 for first, second or third year students.

The scholarship involves a paid eight-to-twelve-week work placement at Peak Iron Mines operations in far north South Australia over the summer vacation. The work placement will be arranged directly with Peak Iron Mines. Scholarship holders will be paid for each work placement and accommodation/meals will be provided at Peak Iron Mines accommodation camp if working onsite.

Applicants must be: 

• ready to commence Honours or first, second or third-year undergraduate studies at one of South Australia’s three public universities in mining engineering, geology, geoscience, or environmental sciences
• prepared to develop skills and enhance their industry participation by undertaking an 8 to 12 week paid work placement at Peak Iron Mines operations in far north South Australia over the summer vacation
• Able to obtain an access permit to visit and work within the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) in South Australia
• an Australian citizen, and resident in South Australia
• intending to spend a significant part of their career in South Australia, or be likely to provide a benefit to the State
• a high achiever, with an excellent undergraduate academic record
• of good character. Preference will be given to students who display leadership potential.

It is essential that the applicant’s supervisor or an academic referee (e.g. dean of school/faculty, lecturer or for first-year undergraduates, a school referee) provides a supporting comment about the student’s achievements, character and leadership potential.