The Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
Since inception, Greater Shepparton Foundation’s Lift Off Education Scholarships have supported 132 local people into higher education. With applications for scholarships to study in 2025 opening in October, even more students from the Goulburn Valley will have the opportunity to receive this valuable financial support.
To provide these scholarships, more than $550,000 has been raised via 28 scholarship sponsors and community donations over the past decade. 2024 marked an important milestone: 10 years of our Lift Off Education Scholarship program; our aim is to raise enough funds to support another 132 students over the next 10 years.
We have welcomed a range of scholarship sponsors, from individual businesses to a consortium of businesses, education institutions, philanthropic donors, family trusts, service clubs and individuals via direct donations that contribute to an overall scholarship. All opportunities to donate are tax-deductible and have a significant impact when supporting a local person in achieving their education aspirations, which flow on to support their career dreams.
Each year, the GSF convenes a committee whose members bring expertise associated with their roles and are representatives of their wider communities to develop the framework and manage the scholarship process.
This committee is a sub-committee of the foundation, and its recommendation for approval of scholarships and the distribution of funds is approved by the GSF Board.
Where possible we match scholarship recipients with a sponsor from a complementary business or profession to their studies or from the same geographic location in the Goulburn Valley. This in turn offers the possibility for connection and mentorship. Sponsors are encouraged to meet their scholarship recipients at a scholarship announcement event in February and will receive progress reports from the students they have supported.
The Lift Off Education Scholarship program was established in partnership with the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project in response to the increasing number of young people not able to afford the transition from secondary education to post-secondary education. Studies showed that young people from non-metropolitan regions, such as the Goulburn Valley, deferred university studies at twice the rate of their metropolitan counterparts. Since 2014, Lift Off has assisted to overcome financial and other barriers to local people’s education dreams and to inspire them to achieve their full potential.
With the next round of Lift Off scholarship applications opening on October 14, we are seeking sponsors for scholarships to be awarded in 2025. Full sponsorship commences at $5000; however, we are happy to discuss partial sponsorship that meets your capacity. Your financial support is 100 per cent tax-deductible and will be utilised for the specific purpose of the 2025 round of Lift Off Education Scholarships.
Alongside supporting young school leavers, we are opening applications to local people returning to study in 2025. This is a direct response to the financial challenges faced by those electing to take on the study and the commitment required to invest in education.
Scholarships are awarded for approved pathway courses and higher education courses, including diplomas, and range from $2000 to $10,000. Lift Off is targeted at local people who attended secondary schooling in the following communities: Cobram, Euroa, Kyabram, Mooroopna, Nathalia, Numurkah, Rushworth and Shepparton.
Sponsorship/donations are held specifically for the purpose of the scholarships.
If you are interested in supporting the Lift Off Education Scholarship program and supporting a local person to achieve their education dreams, please contact me at info@greatershepparton.foundation
Alternatively, for more information on Lift Off Education Scholarships, please visit the ‘scholarships’ page on our website for more information: www.greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer