The Public Education Foundation’s Big Picture Learning Australia (BPLA) Scholarship supports students attending schools in the BPLA network across Australia – listed below. It provides financial assistance to students who may otherwise struggle to reach their potential, encouraging participation and achievement throughout their secondary school years.

The scholarship is open to students from Year 7 to Year 12 (in 2026) and generously supported by Big Picture Learning Australia.

Basic Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled in Year 7 to 12 at a public school within the BPLA network
  • Experiencing equity, social or physical hardship
  • Australian citizen or permanent resident

Financial Support

  • $1,000 per student per year
  • One year of support per scholarship awarded

Eligible Educational Expenses

BPLA wants young people like you to get what you need, to get where you want to go, to become who you want to be. Due to the diverse passions of BPLA students, sometimes that involves unique and unusual costs that are not just about learning in the classroom, but about helping you to connect with opportunities out in the community.

Scholarship funds can be used for:

  • Travel to an internship
  • Access to an external course
  • Laptops, tablets, software or other tech equipment and apps
  • Study furniture or home internet access
  • Art supplies, tools, raw materials, books, or musical instruments
  • Memberships or subscriptions to organisations and publications in your fields of interest
  • School fees, excursions or camps
  • Support for school leavers/graduates in their first year out as they transition to a new apprenticeship, training course or university course

Students in Years 10 to 12 will also gain access to:

  • PEF’s mentoring program
  • Studiosity’s 24/7 online tutorial services (limited hours per scholar)

Selection Criteria

To apply, please write a narrative to tell us why you would appreciate a scholarship and how you plan to use the funds, if awarded. You may wish to describe your educational and career goals, or simply tell us about some of the interests you are keen to explore, or the skills you would like to develop with assistance from the scholarship.

Please include a supporting statement from your Advisory Teacher/Principal.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed by an independent selection panel organised by the Public Education Foundation. The donor may be invited to participate. Panel recommendations are approved by the PEF Board. All applicants are notified of outcomes by December 2025.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via PEF’s online application portal: PEF-Apply.

You will need:

  • Personal and school details
  • A narrative outlining your goals
  • Advisory Teacher’s/Principal’s supporting statement

Applications close 5:00pm, Friday 19 September 2025.

Contact

Email: scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au

Phone: 02 7814 2806

Website: publiceducationfoundation.org.au

BPLA Network

BPLA collaborates with a diverse network of schools across Australia that implement its innovative, student-centred educational model. These schools span urban, regional, and remote areas, offering personalised learning experiences tailored to individual student interests and needs.

Here are some of the schools that are part of the BPLA network:

ACT

  • Canberra College (Phillip)
  • Melrose High School (Pearce)

New South Wales

  • Ballina Coast High School (Ballina)
  • Cooks Hill Campus (Cooks Hill)
  • Cook School (Loftus)
  • Five Islands Secondary College (Port Kembla)
  • Guyra Central School (Guyra)
  • Hunter Sports High School (Gateshead)
  • James Fallon High School (Albury)
  • Jerrabomberra High School (Jerrabomberra)
  • JJ Cahill Memorial High School (Mascot)
  • Kingscliff High School (Kingscliff)
  • Lake Munmorah High School (Lake Munmorah)
  • Liverpool Boys High School (Liverpool)
  • Morisset High School (Morisset)
  • Murwillumbah High School (Murwillumbah)
  • Muswellbrook High School (Muswellbrook)
  • Rivendell School (Concord West)
  • Sydney Secondary College (Blackwattle Bay)
  • South Sydney High School (Maroubra)
  • Tamworth High School (Tamworth)
  • Tomaree High School (Salamander Bay)
  • Ulladulla High School (Ulladulla)

Northern Territory

  • Taminmin College (Humpty Doo)

Queensland

  • Jabiru Community College (Zillmere)

Tasmania

  • Launceston Big Picture School (Launceston)
  • Hobart City High School (New Town)

Victoria

  • Croydon Community School (Croydon)

Western Australia

  • Halls Head College (Halls Head)
  • Hedland Senior High School (South Hedland)
  • Karratha Senior High School (Karratha)
  • Kelmscott Senior High School (Kelmscott)
  • Manjimup Senior High School (Manjimup)
  • Meekatharra District High School (Meekatharra)
  • Ngaanyatjarra Lands School (Kalgoorlie)
  • Northam Senior High School (Northam)
  • Roebourne District High School (Roebourne)
  • Thornlie Senior High School (Perth)
  • Yule Brook College (Maddington)

For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of all schools participating in the Big Picture Learning Australia network, you can visit their official school network page: Big Picture Learning Partnership Schools.