Just 39 kilometres from the tip of Cape York lies Thursday Island—home to under 3,000 residents and one of 274 islands in the Torres Strait. It was here that Samuel grew up, surrounded by culture, community, and a quiet ambition for his future. Samuel’s older brother, Kiyoshi, received a Yalari scholarship in 2020.
Now in his final year at John Paul College, he is pursuing a career in dance—a passion held since primary school. Witnessing Kiyoshi’s growth through the opportunity of a Yalari scholarship, their mother, Faylene, envisioned that same path for Samuel. In primary school, Samuel was known as a bright and determined student, deeply committed to his learning. Like many students from regional and remote communities, he simply needed a bridge to help him transition into the specific academic environment of a leading boarding school.
At Yalari, we meet many students with the passion and potential to succeed, but for whom the distance to a leading secondary education remains high. In response, we launched Yalari Ready—a pilot program designed to provide students with the intensive literacy and numeracy support they need to thrive during this transition.
Samuel proudly wearing his John Paul College uniform.
Samuel with other Yalari Ready students at John Paul College.
“I found that Yalari Ready was a great experience for me as I was working hard to get my grades up. The class I was in helped me to connect with other people and get better at my academics, particularly maths. Yalari Ready prepared me very well for high school because my teacher understood me and I understood her; she taught me a lot of what I know now. Last year I was focusing a lot more, and it made me improve my work.”Of the students who completed the Yalari Ready program, all were awarded Yalari scholarships for 2025—including Samuel, who has now commenced Year 7 at John Paul College. By investing in the Yalari Ready program, you are helping to close the distance between potential and possibility for students like Samuel. Your support strengthens the foundations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from regional Australia, building the confidence they need to excel at school and into the future.
