Sponsor a Student
Opportunity starts with education
When children and young people have the opportunity to access a quality education and support, they can go on to achieve extraordinary things.
For many Indigenous families in regional and remote Australia, access to quality secondary education can be limited by infrastructure, geography or opportunity.
A scholarship helps remove those barriers, giving a young person the chance to pursue their goals while remaining connected to their identity, family and community.
Be part of the journey
You can choose to partner with Yalari to help us provide secondary school education and boarding scholarships and comprehensive wrap-around support to over 270 children at 23 boarding schools across Australia.
All Australians are invited to play a part in generational change. As our alumni build careers and give back, that change reaches beyond the student to their family and community, growing a network of 800 educated, connected Indigenous leaders that is now one of the largest in the country.
How Sponsoring a Student Works
Simple steps to get started
Yalari has a community of supporters including corporates, Trusts & Foundations, individuals and groups, who contribute together towards providing scholarship opportunities.
Through this partnership, sponsors play a role in creating opportunities for Indigenous young people from regional, rural and remote communities to access quality education and pursue their aspirations.
The impact of a scholarship
Alumna Taneale Lawton returned to her home community to work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services. Today, Yalari’s alumni network includes more than 600 young Indigenous leaders contributing to communities and industries across Australia.
“None of this would have been possible without Yalari. Through scholarships, leadership workshops and cultural camps, I gained the confidence, resilience and leadership skills that shaped my career.”
– Taneale Lawton, Service Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, South West Hospital and Health Service and Yalari Alumna
Frequently asked questions
What does a scholarship provide?
Students receive access to quality secondary education in leading boarding schools alongside the support they need through their journey. This includes:
- Boarding and tuition at one of Yalari’s partner schools
- Holistic and targeted support, developed over 21 years, including academic, cultural, wellbeing and pastoral care
- Leadership camps, workshops and connection with the wider Yalari community
Will I get to hear from the student I support?
As part of the Yalari community, you’ll receive regular updates on the progress and achievements of the student you support. You’ll be invited to events where you can meet the students and celebrate milestones alongside them.
How do I apply to sponsor a student?
Our philanthropy team works with you directly to match your support to a student, school or program. Get in touch or call (07) 5665 8688 to start the conversation.
Is my sponsorship tax-deductible?
Yes. Yalari is a registered DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) charity, so gifts to sponsor a student are fully tax-deductible.
What is the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship?
Yalari scholarships are awarded through the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship, named after the teacher whose support of a single student inspired the founding of Yalari.
It’s Yalari’s core scholarship program, offering more than 60 Indigenous students a year full boarding and tuition support from Year 7 to Year 12 at one of Yalari’s 23 partner schools. Read the full story behind the scholarship.
How is sponsoring a student different from workplace giving?
Sponsorship is a direct, ongoing commitment, typically from an individual or business, to fund a student’s scholarship. Workplace giving is a small, regular pre-tax payroll donation often matched by employers. See how workplace giving works.
Get involved, your way
At Yalari we encourage our partners to get involved in our Yalari community. This can include volunteering, mentoring, attending our on-Country Central Australia camps, and providing alumni employment and pathways opportunities.
These connections give you the chance to see the impact of your support firsthand. If you’re a business, we’ll also work with you to support your organisation’s goals, including your RAP and ESG commitments.
Many partners also choose to connect with students and alumni through events, volunteering, mentoring, cultural learning, and employment opportunities — these connections let you see the impact of your support firsthand.
Whatever way you’d like to get involved, we look forward to making a meaningful difference together.
