Indigenous Boarding School Scholarships for Mackay Students
Creating Pathways for Indigenous Students from Mackay
Yalari offers full boarding school scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from regional and remote communities. Each scholarship opens the door to quality education, caring school communities, and the support students need to grow with confidence and pride.
As part of our national network, Yalari partners with many leading independent boarding schools in the North Queensland region, including Townsville Grammar School and Saint Augustine’s College in Cairns. These partnerships help provide students with opportunities to access high-quality education in supportive and culturally respectful environments.
For young people from Mackay, a Yalari scholarship isn’t just about school. It’s about opportunity, connection, and believing that education can change what’s possible.
Supporting Students from Mackay and Remote Queensland
Mackay sits on Yuibera Country, and is home to proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with deep ties to land, family, and culture.
Yalari is proud to support students from Mackay and surrounding regional and remote areas who are ready to take their next step in education. Our scholarships help children from these areas access quality boarding schools across Australia that share our values of care, respect, and opportunity for Indigenous students.
Our team takes the time to visit families in their homes, learn their stories, and understand every individual child’s strengths and goals. This helps us find the right school for them based on where we believe they’ll feel most supported, connected, and confident to grow.
For young people from Mackay, a Yalari scholarship offers more than a place at a school. It’s the start of a journey that celebrates identity, builds independence, and keeps culture strong while opening doors to education and opportunity.
Our Partner Schools Supporting Yalari Scholars
Yalari partners with a select group of leading boarding schools across Australia that share our belief in the power of education to change lives. These schools provide safe, supportive environments where Indigenous students can learn, grow, and build lifelong confidence.
The two closest boarding schools to Mackay include Townsville Grammar School and St Augustine’s College in Cairns. Both schools have a long history of excellence and a deep commitment to supporting Yalari students through their academic and personal journeys.
St Augustine’s College in Cairns is one of Yalari’s partner schools in Far North Queensland. It offers a supportive boarding environment where students are encouraged to grow academically and personally while developing pride in their culture and community.
The college’s inclusive approach and strong pastoral care programs help ensure every student feels valued and inspired to reach their full potential.
Townsville Grammar School is another of Yalari’s partner schools in Northern Queensland. Known for its long-standing commitment to education and community, it provides a welcoming environment where Indigenous students can achieve academically and socially while maintaining close cultural ties. Its boarding community fosters confidence, connection, and a strong sense of belonging.
How We Place Our Students
While Yalari partners with both St Augustine’s College and Townsville Grammar School, student placements are made based on individual needs, family circumstances, and the school that will best support each student’s educational journey.
Wherever they are placed, every Yalari student is surrounded by care, guidance, and encouragement to learn, grow, and build a future grounded in pride, connection, and opportunity.
How to Apply for a Yalari Scholarship
Applying for a Yalari scholarship is the first step on an exciting education journey. Each year, Yalari invites applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in regional and remote communities, including Mackay, who will be starting Year 7.
The process is personal and supportive. Families begin by completing an application form, and our team stays in touch to learn more about each student’s story, strengths, and goals. We then visit shortlisted students and their families at home to talk about the opportunity and answer any questions.
Successful applicants are carefully matched with one of Yalari’s partner boarding schools across Australia. Placements are based on what will best support each child’s learning, well-being, and cultural connection.
Applications for 2026 are now closed. Applications for students commencing Year 7 in 2027 will open in December. Please complete an Expression of Interest to be notified when they open
What Makes Yalari Scholarships Different
A Yalari scholarship is not only an education opportunity, but also a commitment to each student’s growth, connection, and future.
Every scholarship covers full tuition and boarding from Year 7 to Year 12, along with ongoing wellbeing and cultural support. From the start, Yalari walks beside students and their families to ensure they feel understood, encouraged, and proud of their identity.
Dedicated Student Support Officers stay connected with families and schools, while leadership camps and cultural gatherings help students build confidence and community.
After graduation, the journey continues through Yalari’s Pathways Scholarship Program, which supports alumni as they move into university, training, or employment. Many graduates also return to mentor new students, continuing the cycle of opportunity and cultural pride.
For students from Mackay, it’s not just a scholarship. It’s a lifelong connection that helps them learn, grow, and create their own future.
Supporting Yalari’s Mission
Behind every Yalari student is someone who believed in their potential. Your support makes that possible.
Each donation helps provide full boarding school scholarships, pastoral care, and cultural programs that give young Indigenous students the chance to dream bigger and reach further.
You’re not only opening the door to education, you’re helping a child build confidence, stay connected to their culture, and create a future filled with pride and purpose.
