Advancing Women Scholarships for 2026 have now ended.
Applications for the 2026 ECCQ Scholarships are now officially closed. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the winners of the Cleo Xynias Multicultural Woman of the Year and the Emerging Professional Scholarship. Your dedication to leadership and professional excellence within Queensland’s multicultural communities is truly inspiring. We also want to thank every applicant who shared their story with us; the high calibre of submissions reflects the incredible talent and resilience of culturally and linguistically diverse women across the state.
For those who missed out this year, we are pleased to confirm that a new round of scholarship opportunities will return in 2027. We encourage you to continue your professional journey and keep an eye on our website for updates regarding next year’s application dates.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at scholarship@eccq.com.au.
About the scholarships
The Advancing Women Scholarships recognise and celebrate the contribution of multicultural women to building a more equitable and inclusive Queensland. In 2026, ECCQ was proud to partner with Windsors Group and the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) to deliver a strong, values‑aligned scholarship program that supports leadership development, professional growth, and sector impact.
Windsors Group, a Brisbane‑based profit‑for‑purpose recruitment agency with more than 25 years of experience, generously provided access to mentoring support for the scholarships. With a national and international reach, Windsors Group delivers end‑to‑end recruitment and personalised HR solutions to help organisations and individuals flourish. The Australian Institute of Management (AIM) complemented this support by offering access to flexible, practical leadership qualifications. With 83 years of experience, AIM delivers more than 150 short courses each year, supporting over 20,000 professionals annually with real‑world, applied learning.
Meet our 2026 Recipients
The 2026 Cleo Xynias Multicultural Woman of the Year recipient was awarded to Solange Lipcin, a community leader, educator, and social entrepreneur. Solange is the co‑founder of LatinOz Queensland and the Spanish community school Lazos LatinOz, and the founder of The Daring Collective, a platform supporting culturally diverse women to build confidence, leadership presence, and voice. Her leadership is grounded in inclusion, community connection, and service.
The Emerging Professional Scholarship was awarded to Antoinette Aquilina, a law‑enforcement professional, consultant, and trainer with more than 30 years’ experience in child protection, domestic and family violence, youth justice, and community safety. As a CALD woman from a non‑English‑speaking background, Antoinette brings deep lived experience and a strong commitment to equity, representation, and public leadership.
