The Public Education Foundation’s Acacia Program Scholarship provides financial assistance, mentoring and career information opportunities to high potential students, in need, attending public schools in particular regions throughout Australia. This scholarship is for students living in the Deniliquin, Far-West and Inverell regions of Rural NSW. The Acacia Program Scholarship was designed to assist students who may otherwise not have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The scholarships are available to eligible students currently enrolled in Year 10.

The scholarship has been established to enable alumni of Australian public schools to give back to their school region, and to public education more broadly, through scholarships, mentoring and advocacy. The scholarships aim to highlight to students the diversity of careers and opportunities available to them through the Australians who sponsor the award and have access to this network.

We aim to show students:

  • examples of successful people who have come from where they have, and
  • examples of people who are involved in a wide variety of careers, doing what they are interested in, to show them a career pathway exists.

Each scholarship consists of a bursary of $1,000 per year for two years ($2,000) to support the student’s studies whilst enrolled in high school, plus mentoring and career information opportunities.  

The scholarship is to cover educational expenses, including:

  • Laptop, iPad or similar device
  • Subject or study-related software, printer, stationery and textbooks
  • Uniforms and equipment
  • Camps and excursions
  • Extra-curricular activities 
  • Furniture for study – e.g., desk, chair, lamp etc.
  • Home Wi-Fi (internet access)
  • Face-to-face or online tutoring

If a student leaves public high school before completion of the scholarship period, the scholarship will lapse. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation’s scholarships fund.

Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure you read the PEF Scholarship Terms and Conditions.

Basic Eligibility

  • High potential student
  • Attends a public high school in the Deniliquin, Far-West or Inverell regions
    • Deniliquin High School, Finley High School, Hay War Memorial High School, Leeton High School or Narrandera High School
    • Broken Hill High School, Coomealla High School, Menindee Central School, School of the Air, Wilcannia Central School, Willyana High School
    • Inverell High School
  • Currently in Year 10 (in 2025)
  • Australian citizen or permanent resident

Selection Criteria

  • Experiencing equity, social or physical hardship(s) that may prevent them from otherwise successfully completing school study or training
  • Displays potential to do well at school
  • Has a positive attitude to school and a high attendance rate
  • Intention to complete their HSC and continue to university or TAFE/vocational education
  • Demonstrate they participate in school life
  • Demonstrate they contribute to the community and/or in extracurricular activities

Selection Process

A selection panel will review all scholarship applications and assess them against the selection criteria. The selection panel will include representatives of the Public Education Foundation and independent experts. After considering all applications, the selection panel will recommend the selected applicants for the approval of the Public Education Foundation’s Board. The successful applicant(s) will be notified in December 2025.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email. If successful, the scholarship recipient’s school principal will also receive notification directly.

How to Apply

To apply for the Acacia Program Scholarship, students can access the link to the online portal via PEF’s website. You will need to sign up for a PEF-Apply account to access the form. Note: All sections of the application, including the Principal’s Supporting Statement must be completed before the application can be submitted.

Prior to starting, you should compile the following information ready to submit your application:

  • Personal details including:
    • full name
    • gender
    • date of birth
    • phone number
    • address
    • email (Please ensure you use an email account you regularly access)
  • Residence status (you must provide a copy of your citizenship certificate or residency visa)
  • When you came to Australia (if applicable)
  • Number of years in formal education before coming to Australia (if applicable)
  • Parent/guardian details (at least one but up to two)
    • name
    • phone number
    • relationship to student
    • email address
  • School details:
    • name of school
    • address
    • principal name
    • email
  • School point of contact – the person at the school who you would like correspondence sent to – name, phone number and email
  • Basic information about you and your family:
    • whether you are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or Pacific or South Sea Islander
    • your mob/family/traditional owner/language group
    • if you are from a non-English-speaking background
    • your country of original and that of your parents
    • which languages you speak and are spoken at home
    • how many adults live on your home
    • how many of those adults are working
    • who is the primary caregiver at home
    • how many other school-aged (or younger) children live in your house
    • highest education qualification of your immediate family
    • if you have a diagnosed disability or learning difficulty
    • whether you have been in out-of-home care
    • socio-economic background
    • how you found out about the scholarship
  • A personal statement outlining why you are a suitable candidate for this scholarship and how you meet each of the selection criteria (maximum 400 words)
  • A brief outline of your plans after you have completed your HSC (maximum 150 words)
  • Briefly outline how you feel you meet the criteria in relation to financial need/disadvantage (maximum 150 words)
  • A brief statement on how the scholarship funds would be used (maximum 150 words)
  • A copy of all pages of your most recent school report ready to upload
  • A personal reference from someone who knows you. It could be a teacher/counsellor/wellbeing officer from your school (PDF or Word format, maximum 400 words) Please advise your referee that our selection panels are not in a position to contact them for additional information. The reference should provide all information they feel is relevant.
  • A supporting statement from your Principal which addresses the selection criteria (the applicant must initiate a request via the online application to the Principal. This will result in an email being sent to the Principal asking them to complete a statement of support online). This statement must be completed by your Principal before the application can be submitted.

Note for Principals: Please be aware that your statement is a critical component of the application form and your feedback is given considerable weight in the process of panel deliberations.  The panels are looking for feedback that goes well beyond simple confirmation that the student is enrolled in your school. Generic responses, or copy/paste responses from the applicant’s referees’ statements will disadvantage the applicant.

Submitting your Application

Once you have finalised your application and all elements are complete (including references and supporting statements as required) you can submit it for review.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, 19 September 2025.

For further information call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.