The Waratah Education Foundation Primary scholarship offers scholarships for primary-school students entering year 5 in 2025.

Waratah Education Foundation supports programs that pursue, promote and improve education outcomes, so all children can gain essential life skills and realise their academic potential.  They also support and encourage educational activities and programs that help break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage amongst marginalised communities.  This scholarship is funded by the Waratah Education Foundation Scholarship Fund.

This scholarship is aimed at students whose financial situation could prevent them from achieving their potential or participating fully in all aspects of primary school.

Up to twenty five (25) scholarships are available in 2025. The scholarship will provide financial support of $1,000 per year in year 5 and year 6 for each student (total scholarship value is $2,000 per student).

The scholarship funds are intended to be spent on items including:

  • Literacy and/or numeracy support
  • Stationery and text books
  • Laptop, iPad or other similar device
  • Subject or study related software
  • Printer
  • Internet connection for study at home
  • School excursions and school camps
  • Furniture for study such as desk, chair, lamp etc
  • Face to face or online tutoring

If a student leaves public school during the scholarship period, the scholarship will lapse.  Please note – if a student’s attendance rate falls below an acceptable level at any time during the duration of the scholarship, the scholarship may be withdrawn.  Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund.

Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the scholarship terms and conditions available on our website.

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

  • Attends a NSW Public School
  • Currently in Year 4 (in 2024)
  • Australian citizen or permanent resident

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Experiencing disadvantage which could prevent the student from realising their potential at school or participating fully in all aspects of primary school
  • Have positive attitude towards school
  • Has a high attendance rate
  • Demonstrate they participate in school life

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, a donor representative 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.  Successful applicants will be notified in December 2024.

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

All applications for the Waratah Education Foundation Primary Scholarship must be submitted via the Foundation’s online portal. You will need to sign up for a PEF-Apply account to access the form. Note – ALL sections of the application, INCLUDING the Principals Supporting Statement must be completed before the application can be submitted.

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

  • Applicant details including:
    • full name
    • gender
    • date of birth
    • phone number
    • address
    • email (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
  • Residence status (copy of residency Visa or Citizenship certificate is a requirement for applicants born outside of Australia)
  • Parent/guardian details (at least one but up to two)
    • name
    • phone number
    • relationship to student
    • email (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
  • School and principal details
  • 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/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
    • country of original of your parents and yourself
    • 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 statement from the applicant’s parent/carer regarding why the applicant is a suitable candidate for this scholarship and how they meet each of the selection criteria. (Completed online – 25 – 400 words)
  • A brief statement from the applicant’s parent/carer on how the scholarship funds would be used (Completed online -20 – 150 words)
  • A copy of your most recent school report ready to upload (PDF or word format)
  • A personal reference from a teacher/counsellor/wellbeing officer from your school.  (PDF or word format, maximum 400 words) Please advise your referee that our 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 applicants or 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 11.59pm on Tuesday 17th September 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at info@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.