Community
Foundation Features | Valuable eight-year association with the Lift Off Education Scholarship program
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, and highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
Since their inception, Greater Shepparton Foundation’s Lift Off Education Scholarships have supported 120 local people into higher education. More than $500,000 has been raised via 27 scholarship sponsors and community donations over the past decade to provide these scholarships.
As 2024 marks 10 years of our Lift Off Education Scholarship program, we aim to raise enough funds to support another 120 students!
One scholarship sponsor, the Youth Op Shop in Cobram, is about to enter its eighth year of association with the Lift Off Education Scholarship program.
Rob Morey of the Youth Op Shop said: “It has been a very enjoyable and successful partnership, which has allowed seven Cobram students to go on to further education with our support. A benefit to us with this program is that it is a transparent process with an independent panel involved in the selection process.”
Each year, Greater Shepparton Foundation 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 the GSF board approves its recommendation for approval of scholarships and the distribution of funds.
“Lift Off is an important program to continue, and we are rewarded with ongoing reports on how grant recipients are going; we also receive visits from time to time,” Mr Morey said.
“It is great to hear from our earlier students who are now in the workforce on how our funding helped them so much.”
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 can meet their scholarship recipient at an awards ceremony and will receive progress reports from the young person they have supported.
“Many students in regional areas are disadvantaged with funding opportunities when they go to further studies; accommodation and study tools cost-wise can be a problem, and it is fantastic to hear that our support has been very helpful to them,” Mr Morey said.
The Lift Off Education Scholarship program was established in response to the increasing number of young people unable to afford the transition from secondary education to post-secondary education.
Studies show that young people from non-metropolitan regions, such as the Goulburn Valley, defer university studies at twice the rate of their metropolitan counterparts. Since 2014, Lift Off has helped young people overcome financial and other barriers to their education dreams and achieve their full potential.
“I am extremely proud that the Youth Op Shop has contributed in some way to making a difference for the better in a young person’s journey in life,” Mr Morey said.
“Any business or individual that feels this program fits into their sponsorship plan will certainly be rewarded by providing that difference while also presenting a great example to our youth.”
With the next round of Lift Off Scholarship applications opening on October 9, we are seeking sponsors for scholarships to be awarded in 2024. Full sponsorship commences at $5000. However, we are happy to discuss partial sponsorship. Your financial support is fully tax-deductible and will be utilised for the 2024 round of Lift Off Education Scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded to school leavers aged primarily 17 to 24 for approved higher education courses, including diplomas, and range from $2000 to $10,000. Lift Off is targeted at locals who attended secondary school in the following communities: Kyabram, Nathalia, Numurkah, Cobram, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Euroa and Rushworth.
Sponsorship donations are held specifically for the scholarships.
If you are interested in supporting the Lift Off Education Scholarship program and supporting a local young 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: www.greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer