Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG was born in Burnie and joined the Army in January 2000. He was posted to the then 4th Battalion (Commando), Royal Australian Regiment, now the 2nd Commando Regiment.
Corporal Baird was awarded Australia’s 100th Victoria Cross for the most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice during fighting in Afghanistan on 22 June 2013, while serving as a Commando Team Commander in the Special Operations Task Group.
Corporal Baird’s actions reflected his personal motto: ‘Aspire to Inspire’.
He was recognised as an inspiring leader within 2nd Commando Regiment and demonstrated the values of courage, leadership, initiative, compassion and service to others.
The Scholarship
Up to two Scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded to support the recipients’ further education.
The Scholarships will be awarded in 2026, in time for the start of the 2027 school year.
TOPIC ‘Aspire to Inspire’
Applicants are required to respond to one of the following questions:
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How do Corporal Baird’s leadership, acts of valour, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice reflect the finest traditions of Australia’s military and peacekeeping history? OR
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What does Corporal Baird’s personal motto of ‘Aspire to Inspire’ mean to you?
Entry format
Entries may be provided in one of four formats:
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Written response (essay, poetry or reflection), maximum 2,000 words
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Audio presentation (spoken and/or music), 10 to 15 minutes
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Video presentation, 10 to 15 minutes
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Digital presentation, 10 to 15 minutes
Applicants must also provide up to 250 words explaining how they would use the Scholarship prize of $2,500 to further their education.
Scholarship eligibility
The Scholarship is open to students intending to enrol in Year 11 or Year 12 in 2027 at any Tasmanian school, including students undertaking home education at the equivalent year level.
Students may only receive one Scholarship.
Assessment criteria: applied equally
The three assessment criteria are weighted equally.
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Criterion 1: Response to the topic
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Criterion 2: Referencing and academic integrity
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Criterion 3: Benefit to the applicant
Originality, referencing and use of generative AI
In line with the Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification (TASC) Academic Integrity Guide for Students, your work must be your own. Information, images, ideas or other material drawn from another source must be correctly referenced and acknowledged.
For a guide to referencing, visit the National History Challenge website.
Expectations for using generative AI in this Scholarship application:
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All work submitted must reflect the student’s own ideas and authentic voice.
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Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, image generators or video generators, may be used to support the creative process. This may include brainstorming ideas, checking grammar or summarising background material.
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If you use generative AI, you must tell us how you used it and briefly reflect on what you learnt from the process.
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Generative AI must not be used to produce the majority of the content or creative work submitted as your application.
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Assessors will consider the student’s own ideas, perspective and reflection when assessing applications.
Consent
Students aged 16 years or over may provide their own consent to submit an application. For students under 16 years of age, consent must be provided by a parent or recognised carer.
Payment of 2027 Scholarship
Each Scholarship will be paid in one instalment of $2,500 by mid-December 2026.
Administration of the Scholarship
The Scholarship is administered by the Department of Premier and Cabinet, with support from the Department for Education, Children and Young People.
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