Tertiary Scholarship Program

We offer university and TAFE scholarships to young people who have grown up in out-of-home care.

Transforming lives through education

You can help young care leavers make their dreams a reality

For care leavers, embarking on a tertiary education is extraordinarily difficult. They must overcome significant social and economic barriers: from frequent school changes, absenteeism and lower expectations from carers and teachers to lack of family support, unstable housing or homelessness, and unemployment.

The vast majority of these young people lack the emotional and financial support that most of us take for granted, and are among the most disadvantaged in our community.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship Program empowers these students to transform their lives through education.

The scholarship has made a massive difference in my life and made studying more accessible. It helped me buy a laptop, a printer and a desk, minimised the financial stress in our household, and gave me the ability to focus more on studying.

Tenayah, Diploma of Community Services

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You can make tertiary education possible for a young person from out-of-home care

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Graduation was something that I never thought would happen. I never thought I would ever be able to choose to study. When I wore my gown I felt very powerful.

Faraz, Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production

FAQs

What is out-of-home care?

Out-of-home care is a statutory care arrangement for children under 18 who can’t live safely at home with their birth families due to chronic child abuse or neglect.

The state government becomes their legal guardian and places the child with an alternate caregiver: a foster carer, relative, or someone in their social network. They might also live in a residential building under the care of paid staff, or independently in a private rental situation.

Almost 47,000 young Australians are in out-of-home care, with around 11,600 transitioning out every year. Government assistance for this group has traditionally stopped at 18.

The Home Stretch campaign, which the Foundation supported, was recently successful in calling for all state and territory governments to provide an option where the provision of care can be extended to age 21.

What do you want to achieve by funding scholarships?

Missing out on university or other tertiary studies further excludes a vulnerable cohort from the lifetime rewards brought by higher education, from improved employment opportunities and earning potential to mental wellbeing and community connectedness.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Young people who have the opportunity to study because of the generosity of our donors then go on to become active and engaged members of our community.

Which universities and TAFEs do you partner with?

Past and current scholarship recipients have attended the following universities:

  • Australian Catholic University
  • Deakin College
  • Deakin University
  • James Cook University
  • Macquarie University
  • University of Notre Dame (Fremantle and Sydney)
  • University of NSW
  • University of Queensland
  • University of South Australia
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Technology Sydney
  • Western Sydney University

TAFE locations:

  • Eora, NSW
  • Petersham, NSW
  • Randwick, NSW
  • St George, NSW
  • Wollongong, NSW
  • TAFE Queensland
  • TAFE South Australia
  • TAFE Tasmania
  • The Gordon, Vic

Other:

  • Australian Film Television and Radio School

How do I find out more about the Tertiary Scholarship Program?

Please contact Program Development Manager Estelle Muller at [email protected] for information about the Tertiary Scholarship Program.

I am a student. How do I apply for a scholarship?

The Sisters of Charity Foundation offers a university scholarship valued at up to $30,000 over the duration of your course, and a TAFE scholarship valued at $5,000 per year for the duration of your course. To be eligible to apply for the Tertiary Scholarship Program, applicants must:

  • Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
  • Be aged 27 or under
  • Be currently in out-of-home care, or have previously been in out-of-home care
  • Demonstrate that you are experiencing educational disadvantage and financial hardship
  • Demonstrate academic achievements, commitment, and motivation to study and to successfully complete the course, and to gain employment
  • Correctly complete an application form and attach all supporting documents as indicated

Our 2024 scholarship round has now now closed, but we are still accepting applications for ACT-based students, or students wishing to study in Canberra or surrounding areas.

If you have a care background and are living in, or wish to study in Canberra and surrounding areas including Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Yass, Braidwood, Goulburn and Snowy Monaro regions, you may apply.

Download the university or TAFE application form, fill it in and send it to Program Development Manager Estelle Muller at [email protected]. Don’t forget to add all the supporting documents including your personal statement.

Download the 2024 University Application

Download the 2024 TAFE Application

Applications will be processed by the Foundation as they are submitted, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. These scholarships are generously being funded by The Snow Foundation.

What is out-of-home care?

Out-of-home care is a statutory care arrangement for children under 18 who can’t live safely at home with their birth families due to chronic child abuse or neglect.

The state government becomes their legal guardian and places the child with an alternate caregiver: a foster carer, relative, or someone in their social network. They might also live in a residential building under the care of paid staff, or independently in a private rental situation.

Almost 47,000 young Australians are in out-of-home care, with around 11,600 transitioning out every year. Government assistance for this group has traditionally stopped at 18.

The Home Stretch campaign, which the Foundation supported, was recently successful in calling for all state and territory governments to provide an option where the provision of care can be extended to age 21.

What do you want to achieve by funding scholarships?

Missing out on university or other tertiary studies further excludes a vulnerable cohort from the lifetime rewards brought by higher education, from improved employment opportunities and earning potential to mental wellbeing and community connectedness.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation believes that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Young people who have the opportunity to study because of the generosity of our donors then go on to become active and engaged members of our community.

Which universities and TAFEs do you partner with?

Past and current scholarship recipients have attended the following universities:

  • Australian Catholic University
  • Deakin College
  • Deakin University
  • James Cook University
  • Macquarie University
  • University of Notre Dame (Fremantle and Sydney)
  • University of NSW
  • University of Queensland
  • University of South Australia
  • University of Sydney
  • University of Technology Sydney
  • Western Sydney University

TAFE locations:

  • Eora, NSW
  • Petersham, NSW
  • Randwick, NSW
  • St George, NSW
  • Wollongong, NSW
  • TAFE Queensland
  • TAFE South Australia
  • TAFE Tasmania
  • The Gordon, Vic

Other:

  • Australian Film Television and Radio School

How do I find out more about the Tertiary Scholarship Program?

Please contact Program Development Manager Estelle Muller at [email protected] for information about the Tertiary Scholarship Program.

I am a student. How do I apply for a scholarship?

The Sisters of Charity Foundation offers a university scholarship valued at up to $30,000 over the duration of your course, and a TAFE scholarship valued at $5,000 per year for the duration of your course. To be eligible to apply for the Tertiary Scholarship Program, applicants must:

  • Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
  • Be aged 27 or under
  • Be currently in out-of-home care, or have previously been in out-of-home care
  • Demonstrate that you are experiencing educational disadvantage and financial hardship
  • Demonstrate academic achievements, commitment, and motivation to study and to successfully complete the course, and to gain employment
  • Correctly complete an application form and attach all supporting documents as indicated

Our 2024 scholarship round has now now closed, but we are still accepting applications for ACT-based students, or students wishing to study in Canberra or surrounding areas.

If you have a care background and are living in, or wish to study in Canberra and surrounding areas including Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Yass, Braidwood, Goulburn and Snowy Monaro regions, you may apply.

Download the university or TAFE application form, fill it in and send it to Program Development Manager Estelle Muller at [email protected]. Don’t forget to add all the supporting documents including your personal statement.

Download the 2024 University Application

Download the 2024 TAFE Application

Applications will be processed by the Foundation as they are submitted, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. These scholarships are generously being funded by The Snow Foundation.

When I learnt I’d won the scholarship I was absolutely ecstatic. A huge financial burden was lifted from my shoulders.

Danny, Bachelor of Nursing

Invest in Australia's future

Donate now and support our Tertiary Scholarship Program

Every year, young people miss out on tertiary education because they don’t have the resources to pay for additional costs. You can help them get the opportunity they need. There are a few ways you can donate to us, including:

  • Make a donationUse the form above to make your donation.
  • Become a regular giver: You can choose to direct your regular gifts to the Tertiary Scholarship Program.
  • Leave a gift in your WillDocument your intentions to leave us a gift in your Will, and your legacy will provide a young person with a generous opportunity.

Make a life-changing decision now and support the growth of a young person who needs it.