Support FYA’s Opportunity Scholarships
The Opportunity Scholarships and Opportunity Grants programs are initiatives of Education Foundation, a division of FYA, and articulate its central vision of a public education system that inspires and enables all young people in Australian “to achieve their best”.
Opportunity Scholarships have been awarded bi-annually since 2003 as a means of assisting public school students to “pursue their talents and aspirations”. Sums of up to $1000 enable talented individual students, defined as “facing disadvantage” and currently in receipt of an educational allowance, to undertake curriculum-based programs and activities in a range of areas and disciplines (arts, performing arts, maths/sciences, sport, communications, etc). Where Opportunity Scholarships target individual students, Opportunity Grants, initiated and piloted by Education Foundation in 2007, provide funding of up to $4000 to enable schools to address collective programming needs of groups of students.
You can support students in need by donating to FYA online
Young Social Pioneers
After months of searching, the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has selected fourteen young people for its inaugural Young Social Pioneers program. Based on the International Youth Foundation’s global initiative, the program aims to support and celebrate the role of young people creating positive change in their communities.
Step Up
Step Up offers students who have engaged in and excelled at the Cityscape program to take their personal development learning to a higher level. All Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) students who have participated in the Cityscape program are eligible to apply for this five-day, fully funded, residential learning journey. 32 students from a broad range of schools and communities will be selected to experience a unique program that links them into a dynamic community of peers, facilitator and mentors supported by our vast networks and CBD resources.
Schools First Award Winners Announced
It’s official – we know who the 2009 Seed Funding award winners are!!! This year’s winners were selected from over 600 Australian schools that submitted an application in this category.
The top-ranked applicants were all assessed by a minimum of four different judges.
Congratulations to the below Schools First Seed Funding award winners for 2009 for winning $25,000 each!
Deniliquin North Public School, NSW
Clontarf Aboriginal College, WA
Endeavour Hills Secondary College, VIC
Corinda State High School, QLD
Southport State High School, QLD
Southside Education, QLD
Mount Carmel College, TAS
Warrnambool College, VIC
Wesley College, VIC
Sapphire Coast Anglican College, NSW
Engadine High School, NSW
Croxton Specialist School, VIC
Maroondah Secondary College, VIC
Pinjarra Senior High School, WA
Thuringowa State High School, QLD
Kurunjang Secondary College, VIC
Echuca Specialist School, VIC
Holland Street School, WA
Sunshine Beach State High School, QLD
Lucas Heights Community School, NSW
Click here for more information on the winners!
The Gathering
Members of the next generation of Indigenous leaders came together for The Gathering in Brisbane 9-12 September to celebrate their achievements as part of the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program.
The Australian Government’s IYLP initiative is helping to close the gap on Indigenous educational disadvantage through scholarships for Indigenous students, mostly from remote and regional areas, to attend high performing secondary schools (day and boarding, government and non-government) and universities.
Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), FYA has delivered IYLP over 2006-2009 with Cape York Institute and Yalari Ltd joining FYA in 2008.
The IYLP is supporting Indigenous students achieve Year 12 attainment and/or completion of a university degree.
Since 2006, 72 secondary students have graduated year 12 as part of the IYLP, another 289 secondary and 49 tertiary students are currently receiving scholarships. To date, the IYLP is enjoying a 90% retention rate, a strong endorsement for the program and its objectives.
The Gathering convened at Rydges Hotel in Brisbane, bringing together over 200 young Indigenous students from across remote, regional, and metropolitan Australia. These students were engaged by a diverse range of expert facilitators, who inspired, mentored and extended students through open discussion, leadership exercises and cultural activities.
View images from YAC 2009!
500 students took part in the 2009 Youth Action Conference at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. They had the opportunity to engage in four change-making workshops, visit over 20 stalls hosted by organisations dedicated to change, and listen to several inspiring speakers, including Alischa Ross, CEO of Y.E.A.H (Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS), Nik Tan, overseeing coordinator of SAIL (Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning Program), and several students from Eltham College presenting their ruMAD? social change projects. Jungle City Massive performed a music story for conference participants. Two student change-makers, Nargis from Noble Park Secondary College and Marija from Bentley Secondary School, both hosted the conference as co-MC’s.
Thursday was a professional development day for educators, academics, parents, youth professionals, policymakers, pre-service teachers, and anyone else wanting to learn more about education outside the classroom.
The conference gave participants the opportunity to create real connections for change! Read more and see some images here
Opportunity Scholarship applications now open
Applications for Opportunity Scholarships, Grants and the new Bushfire Response Scholarship are now open and close on August 24. The Opportunity Scholarships program is an important element of Education Foundation’s ambition to enable all young people in Australia to become successful learners, active citizens and confident young people who will shape the future… Read more
apply now for Schools First
FYA, in partnership with NAB and Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), is proud to announce that applications are now open for Schools First, a unique and exciting awards program that encourages schools to engage with communities in an effort to take learning beyond the blackboard. Schools need to successfully demonstrate that they are involved in a school/community partnership, or are developing a plan to implement a partnership that improves student outcomes.Applications close on Friday 14 August.
For more information and handy hints on applying click here or arrange to talk with the team at FYA. We’re offering all applicants the opportunity to speak with a team member over the phone. Whether you’re seeking guidance about the application form or eligibility of your partnership, a conversation with the team at FYA may assist in completing your application. Email fya@schoolsfirst.edu.au to book in a time now.
Real Engagement with Real Issues
The University of Melbourne’s Australian Youth Research Centre has released an evaluation of The ruMAD? (Are You Making a Difference) Program, which aims to encourage, educate and empower young people to make a difference and facilitate social change within their schools and local communities. Read more
YSP participants announced
After months of searching, the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) has selected fourteen young people for its inaugural Young Social Pioneers program. Based on the International Youth Foundation’s global initiative, the program aims to support and celebrate the role of young people creating positive change in their communities. Read more
