ABOUT US

What is the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program?

The Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program (RBS) is the first nationally coordinated Indigenous Education Scholarship Program in Australia. The program is named in honour of Mr Stanley’s (founder) grade 7 teacher from Murgon State School, who in 1979 assisted him to secure a life changing secondary school scholarship at Toowoomba Grammar School in Queensland.

Yalari has robust processes to select, manage, monitor and mentor students throughout their schooling. Critical to Yalari’s success is its commitment to supporting the relationship between the students, their families, communities, their schools, as well as corporate sponsors and philanthropic donors.

The Story Behind Yalari

Mr Waverley Stanley is an Indigenous man who grew up in Murgon and Cherbourg which are situated 300 kilometres north-west of Brisbane in the South Burnett region of Wide Bay in Queensland, Australia. He received a full boarding scholarship at the Toowoomba Grammar School (an all boys private boarding school) from 1980 to 1984. Mr Stanley is still the only Indigenous student to have ever completed year 12 in the schools 130 year history (since 1875). He was also appointed a school prefect in his final year.

Mr Waverley Stanley & Mrs Bishop

This opportunity came about through Mrs Bishop recognising something special in Waverley when he was 12 years old and in Grade 7. She was instrumental in organising this opportunity for Waverley by approaching the Headmaster at the time of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent.

"The sporting disciplines, teamwork and leadership opportunities presented to me at Toowoomba Grammar School prepared me to undertake many leading roles in my community. This scholarship was the catalyst for me to change the course of my life. I was the only Indigenous student at Toowoomba Grammar School and I feel this laid the foundation of the character, resilience and attitude that has served me well throughout my adult life. Through Yalari I am now offering the same opportunities that I was given as a student to other Indigenous children."

After graduating from secondary school Mr Stanley worked as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the Australian Taxation Office. He was then employed as a Welfare officer for the Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agency, before spending ten years working as a Community Education Counsellor for Education Queensland throughout the state. Recently, Mr Stanley established New Wave Enterprises, a leadership training organisation.

"This one act of kindness and commitment to my future provided me with the motivation to establish the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to establish scholarships for other Indigenous children throughout Australia".

The long term goal of the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program is to reshape the educational standards and statistics of Indigenous students in Australia by giving educational opportunities to Indigenous children Australia wide, hence having a positive effect on generations of Indigenous people.

How will the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program make a difference?

Yalari, through the RBIES Program, will increase the effectiveness of Indigenous scholarships and help create future Indigenous leaders by:

• Creating long term genuine partnerships and long term shared goals with boarding schools, Indigenous communities, parents and students.
• Developing and coordinating a support network of Indigenous personnel to provide educational, moral and cultural support to students, parents and the school community.
• Assisting schools manage the unique cultural needs of Indigenous students and their families and to foster long term cultural partnerships.
• Sharing knowledge, resources and best practice models between schools and communities that will assist in the achievement of Indigenous students starting and completing their senior schooling at boarding schools.
• Generating broad based long term sustainable community, corporate and philanthropic financial support.

Outcomes for Indigenous Children

Indigenous children given the opportunity to be a scholarship recipient will receive the following benefits from attending a private boarding school;

• A first class education at a leading private school in Australia
• New life experiences outside of their communities
• Educational opportunities that are unavailable in their own communities
• Individual self empowerment
• Independence
• Growth in the self belief, confidence and determination of an individual
• Role model for other Indigenous children within their respective communities
• An opportunity to be exposed to new ideas, learning experiences and personal development
• Sustainable long-term personal skills benefiting other family members and Indigenous communities