The University of Melbourne graduate now joins various ABC news and current affairs teams.
Isabella (Bella) Tolhurst has been named as the 2022 recipient of the ABC’s Caroline Jones Scholarship.
Created in honour of the veteran ABC journalist, the 12-month scholarship provides financial and on-the-job development for a talented young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander journalist, working with various ABC news and current affairs teams.
Bella is a proud Dyirbal woman but has lived in Naarm (Melbourne) her whole life, on Boonwurrung land. Bella recently completed her studies in Media, Communications and Politics at the University of Melbourne and is passionate about highlighting more Indigenous voices in the media.
She said:
“I am so excited and honoured to be selected as this year’s Caroline Jones Scholar. To be provided with such an incredible opportunity to launch my career in journalism is an honour and I cannot wait to get started!
“I am grateful to the ABC for the support that they have provided me with thus far and their commitment to increasing Indigenous opportunity and representation within Australian news.
“I anticipate it will be a year full of challenges and growth, which will undoubtedly provide me with the best foundation an aspiring journalist could want. I look forward to developing my skills across the newsroom, networking with people who inspire me, and learning more about where my future in journalism could land me.”
Caroline Jones said:
“Congratulations to Isabella. The year ahead will be an exciting, challenging and rewarding experience for her.
“This scholarship offers splendid training for the award winner as the ABC NEWS division continues to widen opportunities for young First Nations people to become skilled in media and to be significant role models for their peers.”
Tolhurst will start the scholarship later this month with the ABC NEWS Victoria team in Melbourne.
