Local students from disadvantaged families have been urged to apply for new scholarships worth $1,000 to support their education.
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said the FACS High School Scholarship program was now open to students in Year 10, 11 and 12 at a NSW high school or TAFE. “This is a wonderful initiative from the NSW Government to help students from struggling families get all the support they need to do well at school,” Mr MacDonald said. “Funds can be spent on expenses including textbooks and course fees, or practical supports such as child care and internet access,” he said.
The program will award 240 applicants $1,000 to help with their studies. Twenty successful students will also be eligible to receive both a scholarship and mentoring. “Previously this scheme was only available to HSC students living in social housing, but we are expanding it right across the board,” said State Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch. “Now students in social housing or on the waiting list, in Out of Home Care, receiving private rental assistance, or living in crisis accommodation, can apply,” Mr Crouch said. Mr MacDonald said another key benefit of the program was the chance for students to reapply each year, all the way through to the end of their tertiary studies.
“These scholarships had been a one-off, but now students can apply year after year – potentially for up to seven years if they successfully apply from high school onwards. “Education is one of the most effective means of ensuring the cycle of disadvantage does not become intergenerational,” Mr Crouch said. “We have many families on the Central Coast doing it tough and these funds will ensure bright kids are rewarded, no matter what their financial circumstances.” Applications opened on January 16 and close on February 24.
Media release, Jan 20, 2017 Kit Kale, office of Scot MacDonald