Aspire Scholarship Spotlight: Louise Sainsbury

August 28, 2025

The Young Achievers Programme

Launched in 2009, the University of Queensland Young Achievers Program helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds access tertiary education. The students are in years 11 and 12 at state secondary schools, often in rural Queensland.

The Young Achievers Program (YAP) supports them by offering mentorship, financial support, personal growth, and leadership opportunities. It gives them the tools and support to achieve their academic and career goals.

A personal connection

Dr John Player, Director and Principal Engineer at MineGeoTech, was raised and educated in Mt Isa, Western Queensland and has a long family association with mining and the outback. He attended the University of Queensland (UQ) from 1989 to 1993, initially with the idea of doing Genetic Engineering but changing to Mining Engineering.

John found his first year difficult coming from a rural area and being away from his family and support network. He has since gone on to achieve a Master’s Degree, a PhD, worked on remote mine sites for over a decade, and is the founder of MineGeoTech.

Our impact

In 2024, a student was awarded the Dr John Player Young Achievers STEM Scholarship. The support from the scholarship has alleviated financial pressures for them, allowing them to immerse in their studies and embrace the full range of educational experiences at UQ.

A warm thank you

The receiver of the scholarship, who is now studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science, said;

“Thank you very much for your support and generosity. The scholarship has helped me greatly in my studies. Thanks to this gift, I could purchase additional resources and materials to further support my learning and to enhance my skills.”

“With this scholarship, I will be able to achieve my goals.”

“Additionally, the scholarship has helped me to form connections and build friendships with other like-minded individuals from my program, for which I am also very grateful. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

We’re proud to be a part of The Young Achievers STEM Scholarship initiative, and to be motivating the next generation of leaders to achieve their brightest goals.