Friends of Zainab Tertiary Scholarship

Supporting refugee students to access and succeed in tertiary education

The Public Education Foundation’s Friends of Zainab Tertiary Scholarship supports refugee students completing Year 12 in 2025 who intend to undertake full-time study at TAFE or a public university in 2026.

The scholarship provides an annual bursary of up to $2,000 for a maximum of two years of full-time study.

This scholarship was established in 2002 by Dorothy Hoddinott AO, then Principal of Holroyd High School, to support refugee student Zainab Kaabi. Since then, it has helped many young refugees access further education.

What the Scholarship Covers

Scholarship funds can be used for:

  • Uniforms and equipment
  • Stationery and textbooks
  • Laptop and study software
  • Online or face-to-face tutoring

Important Notes:

  • The scholarship will lapse if the student leaves their TAFE or university course before completion.
  • Unspent funds must be returned to the Public Education Foundation.

Before applying, please read the full scholarship terms and conditions.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Refugee background
  • Currently in Year 12 at an Australian public school (2025)
  • Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Planning to enrol full-time in a TAFE course or university degree in 2026

Note: Students who have applied for protection but do not yet hold permanent residence or citizenship may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Selection Criteria

  • Experiencing personal or socioeconomic disadvantage
  • Evidence of educational disadvantage prior to arriving in Australia
  • Clear commitment to a chosen career path and suitable subject/work experience choices
  • Academic progress in high school
  • Positive school attitude and strong attendance
  • Participation in school life
  • Involvement in the community or extracurricular activities

Selection Process

A selection panel of Public Education Foundation representatives and independent experts will assess applications based on the selection criteria. Final recipients are approved by the Foundation’s Board.

Successful applicants and their school principals will be notified in December 2025.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted via the online portal. Create an account at:

PEF-Apply

Note: All sections of the form, including the Principal’s Supporting Statement, must be completed before submission.

Information Required

Student and Family Details

  • Full name, gender, date of birth, phone number, address, and email
  • Residency documentation (Visa or citizenship certificate)
  • Years of formal education prior to arriving in Australia
  • Parent/guardian contact information (one or two)
  • School details (name, address, principal’s name and email)
  • School point of contact (name, phone, email)
  • Background information:
    • Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or Pacific Islander status
    • Mob/family/traditional owner/language group
    • Non-English-speaking background
    • Country of birth (student and parents)
    • Languages spoken at home
    • Household composition and employment
    • Primary caregiver
    • Family education level
    • Disability or learning difficulty
    • Out-of-home care experience
    • Socio-economic background
    • How you heard about the scholarship

Written Responses

  • Your current circumstances and why you are a strong candidate (max. 250 words)
  • Your involvement in school and/or extracurricular activities (max. 250 words)
  • Your commitment to your career goal and how your studies/work experience support it (max. 250 words)
  • TAFE or university course preferences (institution + course name; up to 3)

Supporting Documents

  • Most recent school report (PDF or Word)
  • Personal reference (PDF or Word, max. 400 words)
    Please advise your referee that panel members cannot contact them for further details. The reference must contain all relevant information.
  • Principal’s Supporting Statement (requested through the online application and submitted separately)

Note for Principals: Your supporting statement is a crucial part of the assessment. Generic or copy/paste responses will disadvantage the applicant.

Draft Paper Application Form

A paper application form is available to help students prepare their submission. However, the final application must still be submitted online. Students may complete the paper version at home before entering their answers online at school.

To request the paper form, please email scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.

Submitting Your Application

Once your application is complete and all components are uploaded, submit it via the online portal.

Applications close at 5:00pm on Wednesday, 27 August 2025.

Need Help?

Contact the Public Education Foundation:
📞 02 7814 2806
✉️ scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au