We sent through an email to 2008 recipient, Sally Vujica to find out how she was going, and to tell other future applicants how the bursary helped her. 

Tell us a bit about yourself
I began my diploma of massage in 2008 and completed it in 2009 when I wanted to immediately start my own massage clinic. Initially it was with the intention for rehabilitation of post surgeries and sports injuries which is why I coupled my business within a Physio clinic, focusing on maximum mobilization.

You were awarded your bursary to start a Small Business Management Course - how did that help you?
The Phillip Leong Youth Programme gave me the ability to open my clinic doors quickly and helped me achieve my point of difference by going through the application process. I started with NQ Bodyfix Kirwan and then a little more than a year later opened NQ Bodyfix North Ward.

What are you doing currently?
I have since sold both practices to focus fund another business however still continue to massage clients from home due to my love of the work.

Any advice or feedback?
This is a great local programme that I believe encourages young people to enjoy the benefits of their own business. Seeing your ideas grows into prosperous businesses that give you a great lifestyle is something that is very exciting and I would encourage anyone to do.

Tell us a bit about yourself! 
 My name is Thomas Bainbridge and I am one of two bursary winners from 2013. I grew up in Townsville where I attended both Belgian Gardens and Pimlico State Schools. I started engineering at JCU straight after School in 2004 but deferred during second semester to take some time off travel and gain some life experience.

What made you decide to apply for the Philip Leong Youth Programme?
Half way through my degree I experienced some family hardship and my student life suddenly became much more difficult - juggling work and family support/commitments. I applied for the Philip Leong Youth Programme after seeing it advertised in the Townsville Bulletin and was fortunate enough to receive the major bursary of 2013.

How has the bursary helped you?
This generous bursary enabled me to stop working and simply focus on my studies whilst still being able to spend time with my family through a difficult time. Furthermore, I was able to achieve First Class Honours in a degree of Mechanical Engineering which has greatly assisted with my long term goal to work/research in the area of ocean renewable energy.

What are your plans for the future?
 I have decided not to pursue postgraduate studies straight after an undergraduate degree to avoid burnout; however, with my strong academic results was able to gain employment with a specialised design consultancy that will equip me with a skillset that I can hopefully transfer to the ocean renewable industry after some time. 

Any final remarks?
You and the fellow board members/stakeholders awarded me the bursary which significantly helped me through a family hardship during my last year of Uni... I can honestly say that without the Philip Leong Bursary my final year of university would have been a completely different story. 


Thank you.

Since winning the Philip Leong Youth Programme Bursary in 2005, I progressively completed a Masters of Business Administration at James Cook University part-time whilst starting my own project 
management consultancy in 2006. 

A move to Brisbane for my partners work saw me project managing all business-related activities required to successfully complete the Queensland government’s $3 billion sale of ENERGEX’s gas and electricity businesses to Origin and AGL.  

Following this I moved across to the Department of Community Safety where I managed a number of business improvement initiatives including the $10 million development and implementation of two
business critical systems required to manage functions such as fire investigations, building fire safety audits and approvals and compliance and prosecutions. 

I am currently project managing the development of a new system at the Queensland Studies Authority which will allow for the real-time capture of student enrollments and results from all Queensland secondary schools and the generation of Certificates of Education, Senior Statements of Results, and Tertiary Entrance Statements. 

I am hoping to balance the management of this somewhat smaller project with motherhood following
the birth of my first child very shortly!

With my partner contemplating a change of career in the next couple of years we are hoping a return
to Townsville, where my family live, may be possible.

This segment aims to highlight the different people, projects and achievement of the young men and women who have all been recipients of the Philip Leong Bursary. 

Each week, a new post will be added which will give you an insight into the projects and aspirations made possible through the grants. 

Please join us as we follow through each story with each young person.