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Applications Indigenous Youth Leadership Program

Applications for 2026 are now open

The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) offers scholarships and leadership opportunities to young Indigenous Australians, with a focus on Indigenous youth from communities in very remote areas of the country or regional communities.

IYLP is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency and The Smith Family was selected to be an IYLP Partnership Broker.

The IYLP supports scholarships for Indigenous students to attend approved secondary schools – day and boarding, government and non–government.

In addition to helping Indigenous students achieve their educational aspirations, the IYLP supports the development of a pool of positive role models and future leaders, to inspire other Indigenous students and illustrate the successes that can be achieved through educational attainment.

See below for a full list of the current education providers The Smith Family has partnered with to deliver the IYLP.

Important Information Regarding 2026 Scholarship Applications

The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) is funded by the Australian Government through the National Indigenous Australians Agency to provide a minimum of 227 scholarships for predominantly remote and regional based students.

The Smith Family partners with over 30 IYLP Education Partners and at the start of every year, we work with our partners to agree on the number of places that each school can offer.
The Smith Family was able to run a higher number of scholarships over the last few years but we are unable to continue this practice so we will be reducing the number of places being offered for 2026.

The consequence is that competition for places will increase and there will be some Education Partners that will not be able to offer any places in 2026.

IYLP Scholarships for 2026 are being offered for the following Education Partners only.

As always, it is important to make contact with the school first to ensure that they have space for your applicant in the year level they will be enrolling in 2026 and room for them in boarding if that is necessary.

Ballarat Clarendon College
1425 Sturt Street, NEWINGTON VIC 3350
Web: https://www.clarendon.vic.edu.au/

Ballarat Grammar
201 Forest St, Wendouree VIC 3355
Web: https://www.bgs.vic.edu.au

Canberra Grammar School
40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill ACT 2603
Web: https://www.cgs.act.edu.au/

Navigator College
61 Windsor Avenue, SA 5099
Web: https://www.navigator.sa.edu.au/

Prince Alfred College
23 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town SA 5067
Web: http://pac.edu.au/

Rostrevor College
Glen Stuart Road, Woodforde SA 5072
Web: http://www.rostrevor.sa.edu.au/

Sacred Heart College
195 – 235 Brighton Road, Somerton Park SA 5044
Web: http://www.shc.sa.edu.au/

St. Peter’s College
Trinity Street, St Peters SA 5069
Web: http://www.stpeters.sa.edu.au/

St. Gregory’s College
100 Bagdally Road, Gregory Hills NSW 2557
Web: http://www.stgregs.nsw.edu.au/

The Geelong College
Talbot Street, Newton, VIC 3220
Web: https://www.tgc.vic.edu.au/

Westminster School
1-23 Alison Avenue, Marion SA 5043

Web: http://www.westminster.sa.edu.au/

Xavier College
1 Kentish Road, Gawler Belt SA 5118
Web: http://www.xavier.catholic.edu.au/

Rossmoyne Senior High School*
Keith Road, Rossmoyne WA
Web: https://www.rossmoyne.wa.edu.au/

*Please Note: Rossmoyne and Xavier are Day Schools only and do not have boarding facilities. Only applications for Day Students will be considered for these schools.

The application process

2026 Secondary Education Scholarship applications are now open.

Applications and all supporting documents must be received by close of business Friday 30th May, 2025.

Applicants are required to complete all sections of the student application and personal statement.

The application for IYLP Scholarship is made to The Smith Family. You must apply for enrolment with your preferred Partner School.

Before you start the IYLP Scholarship Application contact the chosen school from the list above to confirm they have a place in the year level applying for and room in boarding (if necessary) for the applicant.

If the school has space for your applicant, inform the school you wish to begin the enrolment process and you will be applying for an IYLP Scholarship. You need to apply for enrolment with the school. This is separate to the IYLP application.

Complete the IYLP Application by completing all of the application documents below and submit them by the closing date.

Please note that the application is a long one and will take time to complete and to collect the paperwork you need. We recommend that you start the application early.

Applications will be assessed and applicants will be shortlisted for an interview at their chosen partner school.

We assess each application according to a number of criteria including:

Leadership
Academic Performance
Behaviour (including attendance)
Academic Effort
Family Support.

The Student Application and Personal Statement will be assessed for evidence of the student’s self-identity and awareness, knowledge of the school and program, independence and resilience, self-motivation, and desire to develop leadership potential.

While we accept applications from metropolitan areas, in keeping with the scope of our funding agreement, extra ranking points are given to applicants from rural and remote communities.

Please note that documents received after 30th May, 2025 will not be accepted and incomplete applications will not be considered for ranking.

A requirement of the application process is that shortlisted applicants attend an interview with their parent or guardian. This interview is to establish whether or not you meet the requirements set out in the program guidelines.

Application documents

Student application 2026 (PDF)
Student application 2026 (Word)
Applicant personal statement 2026 (PDF)
Parent/guardian support & consent (PDF)
Parent/guardian support & consent 2026 (Word)
Student reference 2026 (PDF)
Student reference 2026 (Word)

By post: Richard Burr, IYLP Manager, PO Box 3041, Rundle Mall SA 5000
By email: IYLP@thesmithfamily.com.au

Who can apply for a secondary education scholarship?

To be eligible for an IYLP scholarship the applicant must be a young Indigenous Australian who has the motivation and high potential to complete Year 12, and be committed to succeeding. Scholarships are being offered for up to one year and student progress will be reviewed periodically.

IYLP scholarship applicants must also be:

• willing to attend an approved IYLP Education Partner School/College

• eligible for Abstudy or be able to demonstrate educational disadvantage

• able to meet the requirements set out in the program guidelines in relation to receipt of other Commonwealth scholarships

Questions

If you have any questions in relation to the scholarship application process please email IYLP@thesmithfamily.com.au or telephone on (08) 8224 1402.