1.1 The Global Explorer Awards Scholarship Program (‘Program’) has been established by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange (SCCE) to maximise the educational, cultural and personal development outcomes of student exchange.
1.2 The Program combines a structured Global Explorer Award with a scholarship initiative designed to encourage participation and recognise outstanding applicants. The runner-up scholarships are also designed to increase outbound high school exchange participation from states such as Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania which have traditionally lower volumes of students undertaking high school exchange programs.
1.3 These Rules govern participation in both the Award and the Scholarship Program.
2.1 Applicant means an individual who submits an application for the Scholarship Program.
2.2 Endorser means a person who submits an endorsement in support of an Applicant.
2.3 Global Explorer Award means the structured personal development framework completed during an exchange program.
2.4 Scholarship means the financial assistance awarded under this Program.
2.5 SCCE means Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. More information can be found at www.thisisscce.com.
3.1 Encourage deeper cultural immersion and meaningful engagement.
3.2 Develop Cultural Intelligence, Global Awareness, confidence, resilience and independence.
3.3 Enhance the exchange experience through structured activities.
3.4 Recognise and reward outstanding participants.
3.5 Build a community of Global Explorers.
3.6 Increase participation from the states of Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
4.1 Participation in the Global Explorer Scholarship contest is open to eligible SCCE exchange students from Australia and New Zealand.
4.2 All applicants and prize winners agree to undertake the 6 activities for the Global Explorer Award if they travel on a high school exchange program with SCCE. See https://www.thisisscce.com/scholarship for details.
4.3 First Prize Scholarship eligibility is open to students aged 14–17 from Australia and New Zealand.
4.4 Runner-up Scholarships are available only to eligible students aged 14–17 residing in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
4.5 Scholarships and grants under this Program apply only to program departures between July 2027 and September 2027. Applicants should confirm their intended destination and program length falls within this departure window before applying.
4.6 Applicants are typically enrolled in Years 9–12 (or equivalent).
4.7 Applicants under 18 require parent or guardian consent.
5.1 One (1) First Prize Scholarship to the value of up to $15,000 will be awarded Nationally, for a full Academic Year exchange program.
5.2 The First Prize Scholarship is available only for exchange to one of the following nominated destinations: France, Italy, Denmark, Austria, USA, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, or New Zealand. The First Prize recipient will select their destination from this list, subject to placement availability and SCCE’s standard placement process.
5.3 The First Prize Scholarship includes the full SCCE program fee for the Academic Year, return flights booked by SCCE, and standard program insurance.
5.4 Up to thirty (30) Runner-up Scholarships will be awarded, comprising up to ten (10) scholarships in each eligible state: Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
5.5 Each Runner-up Scholarship provides a $5,000 reduction of the applicable SCCE program fee for an Academic Year program, and may be applied to any SCCE destination. These will be awarded to students from TAS/WA/SA only.
5.6 Scholarships and grants exclude passport and visa costs, personal spending money, optional excursions, excess baggage and optional school costs unless expressly stated.
5.7 Scholarships and grants awarded under this Program cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount or offer (including, without limitation, early bird discounts), unless approved by SCCE in writing.
6.1 Applications Open: 1 July 2026.
6.2 Applications Close: 11:59 pm (AEDT) on 31 January 2027.
6.3 Judging Period: 1 February 2027 to 13 February 2027. SCCE reserves the right to verify applications and request additional information during this period.
6.4 Winner Notification: On or before 14 February 2027.
6.5 Departure Dates & Full Enrolment Deadlines
6.5.1 Eligible departures for scholarship recipients fall between July 2027 and September 2027.
6.5.2 Specific departure dates and full enrolment deadlines vary by destination country and are set out on the SCCE Outbound Program Prices page: https://www.thisisscce.com/destinations/price/.
6.5.3 Scholarship recipients must complete all enrolment documentation by the deadline applicable to their chosen destination, as published on the Outbound Program Prices page. Failure to meet the destination-specific enrolment deadline may result in the scholarship being withdrawn and reallocated in accordance with clause 15.
6.5.4 Departure dates listed on the Outbound Program Prices page indicate approximate arrival periods only. Confirmed travel dates will be provided by SCCE in advance and remain subject to change (see clause 16).
7.1 Complete the official online application here: https://globalexplorer.me/portal/scce/submit
7.2 Submit a video of no more than two (2) minutes to create your student profile.
7.3 Obtain a minimum of twenty (20) valid endorsements . You collect endorsements by sending your profile to your network of supporters to endorse your application.
7.4 Incomplete or fraudulent applications may be rejected.
8.1 Applications may be assessed on motivation, communication, creativity, authenticity, endorsement support, suitability and ability to represent SCCE.
8.2 Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee selection.
8.3 Judging decisions are final.
8.4 SCCE may appoint internal staff, partner organisations and independent representatives as judges.
9.1 Successful applicants must accept the scholarship within the timeframe advised by SCCE.
9.2 Recipients must complete all enrolment documentation and satisfy SCCE participation requirements.
9.3 Failure to accept within the specified period may result in the scholarship being withdrawn and offered to another applicant.
9.4 All scholarship recipients must sign a Global Explorer Awards Scholarship Agreement before any scholarship benefits are confirmed. Applicants under 18 years of age must have the Agreement signed by a parent or legal guardian.
10.1 Scholarship recipients are expected to actively participate in the Global Explorer Award and complete all required activities throughout their exchange. Activity details can be found at https://www.thisisscce.com/scholarship/
10.2 Participants will complete activities across the six Award pillars and submit evidence through the Global Explorer platform found at https://www.globalexplorer.me
10.3 Failure to actively participate in the Global Explorer Award, submit satisfactory evidence or make reasonable progress may result in withdrawal of scholarship benefits, removal from the Award and, where appropriate, termination of the participant’s SCCE exchange agreement in accordance with SCCE policies. If scholarship is terminated for non-participation in the Award, SCCE has the right to recoup program costs from participant to the value of the scholarship discount.
11.1 Participants must comply with all SCCE rules, host family expectations, school requirements and local laws as per program terms and conditions, and rules defined in student handbook.
11.2 Participants are expected to demonstrate respectful behaviour, cultural sensitivity and responsible online conduct.
12.1 Scholarship recipients are ambassadors for SCCE and the Global Explorer Awards.
12.2 Recipients may be requested to participate in interviews, presentations, media activities, school visits and promotional campaigns before, during and after their exchange.
12.3 Recipients are expected to positively represent SCCE and encourage future students to participate in exchange.
13.1 Endorsements must be genuine, unique and submitted with the Endorser’s consent.
13.2 Fraudulent, duplicate or automated endorsements may be removed.
13.3 Endorsers consent to receiving marketing communications from SCCE and may unsubscribe at any time.
14.1 Participants consent to SCCE using photographs, videos, interviews, blogs, testimonials and social media content for promotional purposes.
14.2 Applicants retain ownership of submitted content but grant SCCE a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to reproduce, edit, publish, distribute and display that content.
14.3 Personal information will be managed in accordance with SCCE’s Privacy Policy.
15.1 SCCE may withdraw a scholarship where a participant no longer meets eligibility requirements, breaches these Rules, withdraws from the exchange program or fails to actively participate in the Award.
15.2 SCCE may reallocate forfeited scholarships at its discretion.
16.1 SCCE is not liable for events beyond its reasonable control, including travel disruptions, government restrictions or third-party provider actions.
16.2 Participation remains subject to SCCE’s standard exchange program terms and conditions.
17.1 The Global Explorer Award is the educational and personal development framework designed to enhance the experience of a student exchange participant.
17.2 The Scholarship Program is a financial assistance initiative. Participation in the Award does not guarantee receipt of a scholarship, but is a requirement for all scholarship and grant winners.
18.1 SCCE reserves the right to amend these Rules where reasonably necessary.
18.2 These Rules are governed by the laws of Australia.
All scholarship recipients must sign a Global Explorer Awards Scholarship Agreement before any scholarship benefits are confirmed. The Agreement forms part of these Program Rules and outlines participation obligations, ambassador activities, media commitments and circumstances in which scholarship benefits may be withdrawn. Applicants under 18 years of age must have the Agreement signed by a parent or legal guardian.
19.3 Global Explorer Participation
Failure to actively participate in the Global Explorer Award, complete Award activities, submit satisfactory evidence or make reasonable progress may result in withdrawal of scholarship benefits, removal from the Global Explorer Award and, where appropriate, termination of the participant’s SCCE exchange agreement in accordance with SCCE policies.
19.4 Ambassador Role
Scholarship recipients agree to reasonably participate in promotional activities before, during and after their exchange, including interviews, presentations, media opportunities and content creation requested by SCCE.
19.5 Program Dates
Applications open: 1 July 2026.
Applications close: 11:59 pm (AEDT) on 31 January 2027.
Judging: 1–13 February 2027.
Winner notification: on or before 14 February 2027.
Eligible departures, destination-specific dates and full enrolment deadlines are set out in clause 6.5.
For questions, please email scceaust@scce.com.au