A helping hand on the pathway to independence

Last published on 16 Sep 2019 

Students nearing the end of high school, or who are undertaking tertiary education, can now apply for $1,000 cash grants to help pursue their learning goals.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the scholarships help cover education-related expenses for young people living in social housing or out-of-home care.

"We want to make sure that young people living in social housing or who are in out-of-home care have every opportunity to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage," Mr Ward said.

"These scholarships provide a helping hand for young people while they complete their studies and can be used to purchase things like a laptop, internet connection, textbooks or tools for tradies.

"This is about giving vulnerable young people a pathway to independence while improving school and tertiary education rates as well as better preparing them for the workplace develop work readiness."

To be eligible students must either be a social housing tenant, a social housing applicant, be living in crisis or supported accommodation, or living in out-of-home care.
Scholarships are available to students in Year 10, 11 or 12 at a NSW high school or TAFE equivalent. They are also open to young people completing a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, or studying a VET subject at school in 2020.

Young people who received the scholarship last year and are moving on to tertiary education, a traineeship or apprenticeship, can also apply.
The program will give priority access to young people living in supported accommodation, identifying as at risk of homelessness, having experienced domestic and family violence, or have been in contact with the youth justice system.

An initiative under Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW, the scholarship program has assisted more than 1,000 students since 2017.

For more information on how to apply, visit Services, support and programs for all families.

Download Media Release: A helping hand on the pathway to independence (PDF , 163.0 KB)