Previous Winners

Previous scholarship winners

2023 - Daneie Geddes

University of Newcastle journalism student Daneie Geddes received the 2023 Brian White Scholarship. She now works at Nine Radio.

“The Brian White Scholarship provided invaluable networking opportunities and hands-on experience, connecting me with industry professionals and opening doors to job opportunities.

“The most important thing I learned during my experience was the power of storytelling and the importance of connecting with listeners on a personal level — not just reading into a microphone but telling a story.

“What I love about working in radio is the immediacy and intimacy of the medium. Being able to connect with listeners in real-time, sharing stories and information as soon as it breaks.

“To other people considering applying, I would say: The scholarship offers an opportunity to gain practical experience, mentorship, and access to a supportive community that can help launch your career in radio. It’s also so much fun and you get to experience how each different company operates and the inner workings of different newsrooms. Even if you only make a finalist or even just the process it’s great to have on your portfolio.”

2022 - Jess Clancy

Edith Cowan University Western Australia Broadcasting student Jess Clancy received the 2022 Brian White Scholarship. She now works at ARN Radio.

“The connections I made during the Brian White Scholarship lead to me landing my first full time radio gig. I worked as an overnight Newsreader on 2GB before moving over to ARN to read on stations including KIIS and WSFM. I'm currently working as the Breakfast Newsreader for Perth's top station 96fm.

“During the Brian White Scholarship I was offered insight into the way different newsrooms operate. Reading style, workflow, and editorial decisions differ station to station, and I was able to pick up on a range of styles and approaches towards news gathering and reading. It was important to keep an open mind and be willing to take on feedback in order to uphold the sound and atmosphere of each station, and getting an insight into which station I might be most suited to working in was also really valuable.

“It sounds cliche, but no two days in radio are the same. You'll never get bored and you'll always have your finger on the pulse.

“If you're keen on entering the wonderful world of radio and have an interest in current affairs or even podcasting, the Brian White Scholarship is a great way to kick start your career. Every one of the past winners has been offered full time work as a result of the program, and it's a rare opportunity to dip your toes in 4 different market leading stations before graduating.”

2021 - Dona Sirimanne

University of Sydney student Dona Sirimanne received the Brian White Scholarship in 2021. She now works at Nine Radio.

“I was able to make strong relationships with the best in radio news. I was able to learn from them, pick their brains and learn invaluable skills from some of the most experienced people in the industry. Now I am working at 2GB and it's great.

“You get out what you put in. The fast-paced nature of radio is challenging, especially in a 24 hour AM newsroom. You will make plenty of mistakes but it's about giving it a go and one day the things that seemed impossible become second nature. That is really satisfying.

“I like the variety, and the focus on writing. We are very particular about the standards of copy and fact checking, as well as ensuring our listeners get the most up to date information. I also love the teamwork. Good radio news is always a team effort.

“Go for it. Back yourself. You won't regret it!”

2020 – Zac de Silva

Macquarie University student Zac de Silva received the 2020 Brian White Scholarship. He now works at Nine Radio.

“The Brian White Scholarship is such an incredible opportunity. It’s a chance to meet the people who make the radio industry run and see how the best in the business operate. It gave me the connections and experience to lock in a job in a regional radio newsroom and hit the ground running when I got there.

“The most important thing I learned: ask questions! Everyone has to start learning somewhere, and in my experience most journalists love talking about their work. The industry has a wealth of expertise, and people are usually happy to share.

“I love the immediacy and the feedback of radio – something can happen and we’re able to share it with our listeners almost straight away. Working in talkback radio means your audience isn’t short on opinions either, which is a great chance to gauge what stories are actually resonating beyond the four walls of the studio.

“If you’re thinking about applying - go for it! Think about where you want to end up in your career and show the judging panel you have the skills to get there. Often in this industry you need to be your own biggest advocate, so put your best foot forward.”

2019 – Tom Durkin

Edith Cowan University Western Australia Broadcasting student Tom Durkin received the 2019 Brian White Scholarship.

“I developed my ability to process information very quickly. By creating news bulletins under time pressure, I learnt how to summarise information in an efficient way.

“I learnt how to ask engaging questions to ensure a story is pushed forward. I was given the opportunity to interview people from a wide variety of professions. I now appreciate the importance of maintaining an interest in all areas of current affairs

“I gained the ability to use my voice effectively. I received advice from a variety of mentors across the radio industry. Thanks to their guidance, I have learnt how to vary my pitch, volume and tone, in order to change the meaning of a sentence.

“Take a chance, back yourself and apply for this brilliant opportunity. During the application process, do not be afraid to display your personality.”

2018 – Kamin Gock

Charles Sturt University Journalism student Kamin Gock received the 2018 Brian White Scholarship. He now works at ABC.

“Without a doubt, the scholarship helped leapfrog my understanding of journalism and my career. The scholarship teaches you things you can't learn in a classroom and puts you in positions where you get practical experience and learn how a newsroom works. These are the kind of skills employers are looking for and the scholarship provides all that and more as you meet incredible people during the eight weeks as well.

“The top three skills I learnt were: how to handle high pressure situations with short deadlines, voice work when reporting, and how to gather news when you are the first one reporting.

“My experience in the radio industry has made me a better journalist, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had. In radio journalism you learn how to translate complex information into accurate, short and sharp sentences. You have to do so in a very small amount of time, so you quickly understand the time pressures that surround you as a journalist. Importantly, radio is all about the voice and you must be able to convey a message sincerely through what you say and how you say it.

“My time in radio helped me develop a professional news reader's voice and taught me how to convey a message to the target audience. At every station, there is a different target audience which means you share the news in a different way but without changing the meaning. All these skills are vital in the industry and transferable across all platforms.

“If you're lucky enough to receive the scholarship have fun with it, and always say yes to opportunities that come your way! You will meet some truly incredible and successful people so relish the opportunity and make the most of it!”

2017 – Rachel Storer

University of Newcastle student Rachel Storer was the inaugural recipient of the Brian White Scholarship in 2017. She now works at ARN.

“I left the finalist workshop in awe. What an experience! I knew I would be pursuing a career in radio news, whether I won the scholarship or not. I was lucky enough to be the winner and went on to complete an eight-week work attachment.

“By the end of the scholarship, I’d been to press conferences with the Premier, met a member of One Direction (it was Niall) and covered the birth of a baby elephant! I was mentored by leading news directors and journalists, and I finished the scholarship career ready. I was employed the following month. What the BW Scholarship did for my career cannot be understated!

“The most important thing I learned was that reading the news is just one small part of what it is to be a radio journalist. You need to be able to write great news to read great news! Take the time to learn that skill.

“I love the immediacy of radio. If there is something our listeners need to know, we can inform them right away. I also love the intimacy; all we need to connect to an audience is our voice. In saying that, I also love how radio has adapted to more visual platforms like social media. It’s an exciting industry that’s always evolving!

“If you are considering applying - DO IT! I cannot recommend the BW Scholarship highly enough. What an incredible opportunity to learn from the best radio journalists in the country! The experience is invaluable.”