ReGen Queensland Scholarships open for 2026

Posted 02 March, 2026
Media Releases

To read more about the ReGen environmental scholarships, visit here.

Emerging environmental and rehabilitation researchers are invited to apply for ReGen Queensland Scholarships, to shape the future of rehabilitation across Queensland.

Funded through the Coal Minesite Rehabilitation Trust Fund, the program offers two scholarships valued at up to $40,000 per year for up to three years.

Applications are open to PhD and Masters candidates as well as early‑career researchers undertaking Queensland‑based study with a local university in the following fields:

Post‑mining land uses such as native ecosystem and biodiversity rehabilitation, agricultural restoration, and landform design including final voids
Surface and groundwater management relating to quality and quantity impacts
Non‑Use Management Areas, particularly defining criteria for residual final voids
Mine closure and transition, supporting communities and assessing long‑term environmental and social outcomes.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said the ReGen scholarships positioned Queensland as a world leader in environmental management and coal mine rehabilitation.

“Queensland is leading the way in responsible resource development. These scholarships will fund more research into advancing our world-class coal industry and help create more Queensland jobs after a mine has reached its end of life,” Minister Last said.

“It is great to see the industry investing in ways to improve mine rehabilitation and carry on the lasting economic benefits for the regional Queensland towns that rely on the coal industry.”

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Officer Janette Hewson said the scholarships benefitted the resources sector and local communities with Queensland’s world-leading mine rehabilitation.

“For nearly 20 years, these scholarships have enabled research to improve how Queensland mines are rehabilitated and extended our environmental science capability,” Ms Hewson said.

The ReGen scholarships were created by the Coal Minesite Rehabilitation Trust, created in 2007 by the QRC, Queensland Government and industry to improve the environmental restoration of coal mines.

QRC Policy Director Environment, and past recipient of the scholarships in 2014, Dr Leigh Stitz said the scholarships would make a significant impact into a researcher’s career.

“This scholarship changed my life by allowing me to juggle being a mother while researching waterway health,” Dr Stitz said.

“I researched macro invertebrates, or water bugs, in ephemeral streams in Tropical Queensland which are good indicators of waterway health.

“This helped provide a better understanding of the cumulative impacts of mining on waterways to improve rehabilitation practices.

“If you are a researcher passionate about sustainability and environmental science, these scholarships can be a major boost to your research and career trajectory.”

To apply for a ReGen scholarship: