Twenty-one years in, Yalari is reflecting on how far a simple idea has travelled.
What began as a vision for 250 scholarships will see the organisation surpass 900 in 2026. The 2025 Annual Review, released today, reflects the growth of Yalari’s largest cohort to date: 271 students are currently walking their educational journeys across 23 partner boarding schools, and an alumni network of 673 graduates active across education, health, law, government and community leadership.
The outcomes are measurable. 69% of Yalari students who begin Year 7 complete Year 12 – above the national average for all Indigenous students regardless of location. 99% of surveyed alumni transition to university, further education or employment. And alumni are now sitting on Yalari’s own board, shaping its next chapter from the inside.
Founding Director Waverley Stanley AM reflects on what two decades has taught the organisation.
What we’ve learned since 2005 is that education doesn’t move in straight lines – it moves in circles and loops. Our students are already leaders in motion.Leadership doesn’t suddenly arrive at graduation – it builds, steadily, over time. Today, Yalari alumni are educators, artists, health professionals, lawyers, tradespeople, business owners and community leaders. Many are now raising families of their own, mentoring others, and giving back in ways that quietly reshape what’s possible for the next generation.
The review documents how students and alumni are defining success on their own
terms. It includes the story of Courtney, who completed Year 12 and is now studying a Bachelor of Business at QUT in Brisbane, and Dominic, who brought determination from Darwin to Shore School in Sydney, shaping and building a deep sense of belonging.
Chair Bruce Davidson is clear about where the organisation’s focus now sits.
Across twenty years, what has grown most is the depth of connection – students, families, communities and schools walking together.
That connection is the foundation for Yalari’s next ambition: an endowment ensuring the organisation operates for 100 years and beyond.
Media contact: MJ Roach mroach@yalari.org (07) 5665 8688
Images and interview requests: mroach@yalari.org
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