$1.2 million to support tertiary studies of disadvantaged young women

Australia’s largest children’s education charity, The Smith Family, has welcomed the announcement by the Queensland Government of $1.2 million over the next five years to support the further education of young women leaving state care.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman announced the funding yesterday at the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Gardens Point Campus with The Smith Family’s Queensland General Manager, Alan Le May.

Mr Le May said: “This very welcome investment will enable The Smith Family to provide up to 100 tertiary scholarships to disadvantaged young women, who are leaving state care and are pursuing further education.

“It will ensure we can provide these students with the educational support they need to successfully complete their tertiary studies or vocational training, offering them a pathway to a better future,” he said.

“We look forward to working closely with the government, and our corporate and university partners, to provide ongoing educational support for this specific group of disadvantaged young people – those who are leaving state care.

“We will also be looking to attract the support of Queensland business leaders to expand this initiative and open up similar opportunities for more disadvantaged young people who are leaving state care.”

Mr Le May said the new funding would see up to 50 scholarships awarded to students commencing their tertiary studies in 2017, with a further 50 students to receive scholarships in 2018.

“Students will be offered financial assistance, the support of a Smith Family program coordinator and mentoring throughout their tertiary studies or training,” he said.

“We know this approach is delivering really strong outcomes for the students we are supporting, across all years of schooling.

“These scholarships, which build on The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, will provide targeted wrap-around support that will help them to achieve in their studies and support them to pursue their career goals.”

QUT’s Director of Equity Mary Kelly said: “As a long-standing partner of The Smith Family, we recognise the important contribution the organisation is making to improve the educational and employment outcomes of disadvantaged young Queenslanders.