Scholarship applications are now open
AusRAIL 2026 is offering a number of scholarships to support attendance at this year’s conference. Please read through the following information carefully to ensure you have everything ready to submit your application.
Please note: Only one application per individual will be accepted. If you are eligible for both scholarships, please apply for the one that is most appropriate to you.
Announcing the 2026 scholarship winners
Thanks to overwhelming support from our industry partners, we have been able to offer an increased number of scholarships for this year’s AusRAIL.
Our well deserving scholarship recipients will receive complimentary registration to the conference, as well as attendance at social events, giving them an amazing opportunity to network and connect with industry and peers.
Congratulations to our 2026 recipients!
5 opportunities
Young Rail Professional Scholarship
Proudly supported by Loram
Scholarship inclusion
- Full two day registration for AusRAIL 2026 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks and exhibition networking drinks)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail Forum on Monday 23 November 2026 OR South Bank Sundowners on Tuesday 24 November 2026
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2026
Conditions
- Applicants must be aged 35 years and under as of the start day of AusRAIL 2026
- You will need to upload a copy of a valid photo ID that clearly shows your date of birth
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Young Rail Professional scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
10 opportunities
Women in Rail Scholarship
Scholarship inclusions
- Full two day registration for AusRAIL 2026 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks and exhibition networking drinks)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail Forum on Monday 23 November 2026
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2026
Conditions
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Women in Rail Scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
5 opportunities
First Nations Scholarship
Proudly supported by Alstom
Scholarship inclusion
- Full two day registration for AusRAIL 2026 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks and exhibition networking drinks)
- 1 x ticket to the South Bank Sundowners on Tuesday 24 November 2026
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2026
Conditions
Applicants must:
- Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- Be working in or have a business connection with the Australian rail industry or its supply chain.
- Be based in Australia.
- Be available to attend AusRAIL for the relevant scholarship period.
- Agree that, if successful, they may be asked to provide confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity before the scholarship is finalised.
- Not have attended AusRAIL previously.
Confirmation of identity
ARA recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity is personal and may be confirmed in different ways.
Successful applicants may provide one of the following:
- A confirmation letter from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation.
- A letter from an Elder, Traditional Owner group, land council, cultural organisation, Aboriginal community-controlled organisation, or other relevant organisation that knows the person or their family connection.
- A statutory declaration confirming that the applicant identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, together with supporting information where available.
ARA will treat all identity-related information as confidential and will only use it for the purpose of confirming scholarship eligibility.
5 opportunities
Young Rail Professional Scholarship
Proudly supported by Loram
Scholarship inclusion
- Full two day registration for AusRAIL 2026 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks and exhibition networking drinks)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail Forum on Monday 23 November 2026 OR South Bank Sundowners on Tuesday 24 November 2026
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2026
Conditions
- Applicants must be aged 35 years and under as of the start day of AusRAIL 2026
- You will need to upload a copy of a valid photo ID that clearly shows your date of birth
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Young Rail Professional scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
10 opportunities
Women in Rail Scholarship
Scholarship inclusions
- Full two day registration for AusRAIL 2026 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks and exhibition networking drinks)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail Forum on Monday 23 November 2026
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 25 November 2026
Conditions
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Women in Rail Scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
Young Rail Professional Scholarship Winners
Inclusions and Conditions
Scholarship inclusions
- Full three day registration for AusRAIL PLUS 2025 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks, exhibition networking drinks, and Last stop: Farewell to AusRAIL PLUS 2025)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail breakfast on Wednesday 26 November 2025
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 26 November 2025
Conditions
- Applicants must be aged 35 years and under as of the start day of AusRAIL PLUS 2025
- You will need to upload a copy of a valid photo ID that clearly shows your date of birth
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Young Rail Professional scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
Henry Gilder
Martinus
Lorraine Grey
John Holland Group
Hirra Nawaz
Siemens
John Trimmer
DT Infrastructure
Bryn Ward
Jacobs Engineering
Nikita Debrincat
V/line
Cheng Kai Lee
Hitachi Rail STS
Nidhi Saraswat
Yarra Trams
Alison Wang
Queensland Rail
Thomas Willoughby
Kiwirail
Women in Rail Scholarship Winners
Inclusions and Conditions
Scholarship inclusions
- Full three day registration for AusRAIL PLUS 2025 and inclusive networking functions (daily tea breaks and lunches, welcome drinks, exhibition networking drinks, and Last stop: Farewell to AusRAIL PLUS 2025)
- 1 x ticket to the Women in Rail breakfast on Wednesday 26 November 2025
- 1 x ticket to the Yellow Dinner on Wednesday 26 November 2025
Conditions
- You will need to provide a statement of 300 words or less explaining how you would benefit from receiving a Women in Rail Scholarship
- All other costs associated with your attendance will be met by you
Ajrina Baradja
Public Transport Authority
Susan Chapman
NSW TrainLink
Wendy Chen
Arup
Alex Payne-Billard
AtkinsRealis
Gabriela Zibova
Speno Rail Maintenance Australia
Zara Abbasi
Transport for NSW
Rebecca Coffey
Ugl Regional Linx
Tiff Lykke
V/line
Georgia Nichols
ARTC
Nicola Reese
Department For Infrastructure And Transport
Key dates
Abstract submissions
-
Submissions open
Mid February -
Submissions close
31 MarchExtended to 10 April
-
Author notifications
Early June
Scholarships
-
Applications open
16 June
-
Applications close
17 August -
Scholarship notifications
8 September
Registrations
-
Registration open, Priority access for social function tickets*
June -
Standard registration deadline, Social function tickets available to non-registered ARA members
(if still available)
23 October
-
Free exhibition visitor registration opens, Social function tickets available to non-registered non members
(if still available)
9 November
*registered delegates and AusRAIL sponsors/exhibitors
-
AusRAIL 2026
23-25 November 2026
