The Youth Off The Streets Scholarship
Awarded to Mahmud, from Hindmarsh, SA

Mahmud is a Liberian refugee who arrived in Australia with his 2 brothers and grandmother, after being separated from his parents during fighting in Guinea. He is particularly interested in science and his scholarship will be used to assist his schooling through tutoring, particularly in English language skills.

Rickiesha is currently completing Certificate IV in Enrolled Nursing and has moved from her home community in Nguiu (Tiwi Islands) to Darwin to study. She is struggling to meet her Semester 2 expenses and is at risk of dropping out of full time study. She is very keen to complete her course & move back to her home community, where there is a lack of trained health professionals. Her scholarship funds will be essential support for her to stay in Darwin & complete her course.

Isha is an extremely talented athlete, who reached the 100m semi-finals in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She was granted refugee status having fled Sierre Leone where her parents and other family members were killed in the civil war. Her scholarship funds will be used to support her training along with additional living costs.

Jaqob has lived out of home from a young age and currently lives with his uncle. He has recently left school, where he received close support and guidance from teachers. He is completing a building apprenticeship and his scholarship will assist with the cost of clothes, equipment, living expenses and fees.

Melissa has had a very disrupted family life. At 14 Melissa was forced to leave home & since then has lived in temporary accommodation and with different friends’ families. She currently lives independently in Salvation Army supported accommodation. Despite the challenges, she performs very well at school and is determined to attend university to do social work once she has completed her HSC. Her scholarship funds will support these goals.

The A. & D.J Building Services Scholarship
donated by David Salmon
Awarded to Genevieve from Sydney, NSW

Genevieve has just started a Bachelor of Nursing at University and is motivated and aware of the hard work needed for her to gain her qualifications. She has overcome personal challenges to turn her life around and pursue further education. Her scholarship funds will be used to support her with child care costs for her new son and educational and living expenses.

Carley lives with her father & step-mother in a small country town in Victoria called Rainbow. Both her parents are committed to helping Carley reach her potential and work hard to give her every opportunity they themselves were not lucky enough to have. Carley’s scholarship funds will be used to help her with her education, including tutoring costs.

Josh lives in a small home with limited space and resources to study. His teachers at Lake Macquarie High School praise him as a very motivated student with a great deal of potential, particularly in visual arts. His scholarship will support him to continue his schooling.

Jade has been living out of home since the age of 16 due to a breakdown in the relationship with both her parents. She is a very motivated student who would like to pursue a career in graphic design. Her aim is to complete an advanced diploma in graphic design at TAFE next year & her funds will be used to pay for course fees and equipment.

The Slingsby Holdings Scholarship
Awarded to Ashlee from Lock, SA

Ashlee’s mother has been widowed for many years & the family struggle to meet their financial commitments. Ashlee is currently in 1st year nursing at Whyalla University and this is the first time Ashlee, who is Aboriginal, has been away from her family. Her older brothers also work to help support Ashlee at university, and the scholarship funds will be used to cover some of these costs & take the pressure off the rest of the family.

The Lord Mayors Charitable Fund Scholarship
Awarded to Clare from Melbourne, VIC

Clare receives little financial or personal support from her family. She is currently studying at Deakin University, but is at risk of being unable to complete her studies due to financial constraints. Her scholarship funds and mentoring will help support her university studies.

The Australian Youth and Health Foundation Scholarship
Awarded to Leigh from Melbourne, VIC

Leigh moved out of home into a voluntary foster placement at the age of 16. Despite the personal challenges he faced, he was placed in an accelerated development program which allowed him to skip year 10 and complete VCE a year before his peers. He started a Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2007 and his funds will be used to complete additional training courses and help with university and living expenses.

The McAlpine Family Scholarship
donated by the McAlpine Family
Awarded to Mihuku from Lismore, NSW

Mihuku arrived in Australia from a refugee camp in Kenya, where he had lived for 5 years. He was forced from his home in Congo due to civil war & his education has been considerably disrupted. He applied for refugee status in Australia himself and since his arrival in Lismore, has focused on improving his language skills. He is currently studying certificate III in General & Vocational Education and would like to go on to complete a Certificate IV and Diploma in Community Welfare. His long term goal is to work for UNHCR with other refugees.

The McAlpine Family Scholarship
donated by the McAlpine Family
Awarded to Jacqueline from Barrack Heights, NSW

Jacqueline has had an unsettled family life, which led to significant challenges for her when she was growing up. Through volunteering, Jacqueline has secured a childcare traineeship through TAFE and a local centre. On completion of this traineeship she then wishes to go on to do a Diploma and ultimately wishes to complete a Bachelor of Teaching at University. Her scholarship funds will assist with the cost of this education.

The Cleary-Cunniffe Scholarship
jointly donated by Santi Suryani
Awarded to Amy from Manilla, NSW

Amy is from a small town in rural NSW. She is a determined student and applies herself diligently at school. Her funds will be used to support her education costs and extra-curricular activities such as sport and music.

The Wawrzyniak Family Scholarship
donated by Stefan & Carolynne Wawrzyniak
Awarded to Symon from Sydney, NSW

Symon has suffered from homelessness and personal struggles, however recently has a new outlook on life. She is currently residing in semi-independent accommodation, and is completing a Certificate IV in youth work at TAFE. She is also completing a Statement of Child Protection with OTEN and Family Studies through Distance Education. Her funds will assist with TAFE costs and assist her with her goal to go onto university in 2009.

James left home at the age of 14 after suffering years of abuse. He spent the following few years in and out of refuges and enrolled at Key College High School in 1998, when he was 19. He had a desire to learn and received counselling and support, although his living situation continued to be unstable. Over the next few years, James has completed training as a nurse’s aid and currently works at a nursing home. He now has 2 young children & wants to offer them the security that was absent when he was young. His scholarship will be used to support James while he completes training as an enrolled nurse.

Kelleigh is a Fashion Design student at Wollongong West TAFE. Her teachers identify that she has significant talent, but that she struggles financially & finds it difficult to purchase the necessary equipment and materials for her course. She lives with her mother & brother in a 2 bed-roomed house and travels 3 hours every day to TAFE. Kelleigh has very clear goals for a career in design & will use the scholarship money to complete her courses and purchase material supplies & equipment.

After being held in detention on Nauru, Christmas Island and in Perth for 12 months, Reza was given refugee residency in Australia. Originally from Afghanistan he has suffered greatly, including separation from his family and Taliban violence. He has supported himself financially from a very young age and despite his lack of support and limited prior schooling completed his HSC and gained a TPV scholarship to university in 2005. This year he gained entrance into an enabling course in Engineering & plans to commence an engineering degree in 2008. His scholarship will help with his educational financial commitments.