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Twin brothers Zac (Bachelor of Exercise Science) and Jesse Zborovsky (Bachelor of Paramedicine) are kicking life goals and taking chances thanks to their Brighter Futures Scholarships.

Living on the Gold Coast, they’re both busy studying full time, playing competitive soccer and working to support themselves. Having moved from Melbourne to pursue their dreams, they’ve left behind their support network in Victoria and faced serious financial hurdles.

“Moving was a huge step for us,” Zac says, “but the cost of living and studying is high and there were times when we wondered if we could make it work financially.”

Zac says the Brighter Futures Scholarship has been crucial to their academic success and personal growth. “It’s given us breathing room, a chance to focus on our studies and pursue opportunities we otherwise wouldn’t have considered,” he says.

Outside of study, Zac works shifts at a popular fitness centre and plays semi-professionally for Magic United Football Club in Carrara. He currently competes in the Football Queensland Premier League 1 competition, which sits just below the top-tier state-level competition.

Without his scholarship, Zac doubts he could have kept up his academic and athletic excellence. “I would have needed to take on more work hours, affecting my studies and my training,” he says. “Now, I can balance my commitments.”

For Jesse, a final-year paramedicine student who works for a medic service specialising in large public events, the scholarship has opened doors to valuable industry experiences.

"Working fewer hours means I can take on more relevant practical experience in my field,” he says. “Every shift I get as a first responder builds my skills for the future. That’s something I might have had to sacrifice without financial support.”

When Jesse applied to study at Griffith, he wanted independence and personal growth. “Moving out of home, I wanted to challenge myself with new experiences and by meeting new people,” he says. “Studying paramedicine on the Gold Coast seemed like the perfect choice.

"I enjoy the feeling of helping others and I'm excited to see where I can go with my knowledge and skills.”

Like his brother, Jesse is no slouch on the football pitch, playing for Robina City Football Club and representing Griffith University at the UniSport Nationals last year. He also volunteers at PCYC and Sailability Gold Coast, an inclusive water sports club for people living with disability.

When Jesse’s not providing community services, he’s just as busy on campus, serving as board executive of Griffith Board Riders—a social student club for surfing, skating and snowboarding—or raising money for unhoused people through sausage sizzles with the Griffith Student Guild.

Jesse’s impressive leadership earned him a Millennium Fellowship through the United Nations and runner-up in the Gold Coast Student Awards for community involvement. When it comes to the future, he’s looking towards the next adventure.

"I would love to do expedition medicine overseas, working on the ski slopes or on climbing expeditions,” Jesse says. “I also want to explore the event medicine space and expedition medical services in É«ÇéÍøÕ¾."

Despite their packed study schedules and living life to the fullest, the Zborovsky bothers both maintain a GPA above 6.0 and are members of Griffith’s Student Academy of Excellence. The selective program helps high-achieving students reach their full potential.

Recently, the brothers volunteered on a trip to Cambodia through a social entrepreneurship program at Griffith, helping to build houses for locals in need and teaching English to school children.

"These kinds of opportunities really broaden your perspective," Zac explains, "but they're often out of reach for students who have to focus all of their efforts on making ends meet." He says the Brighter Futures Scholarship represents more than just financial security—it allows for more possibility.

“It’s giving us permission to think bigger about our futures,” Zac says. “I’m considering postgrad study in physiotherapy and studying in the US on a soccer scholarship. These are dreams that felt completely out of reach before; now, it seems possible.”

Zac hopes to combine his love for soccer with physiotherapy “to help elite athletes and everyday É«ÇéÍøÕ¾ns to thrive at their full potential, particularly people with an injury or a disability”, he says.

For Jesse, the financial support has been crucial for his own professional development, helping him to pay for pre-placement checks required as part of his study.

"We're both so grateful for this support," Jesse says. "It's not just the financial assistance for us—it's about having someone believe in your potential and invest in your future. That means everything, especially when you're trying to build a life far from home.”