Annual appeal
The gift of education
At the University of Newcastle we believe in giving all students the chance to achieve their dreams regardless of their background or experiences.
The University of Newcastle's Annual Appeal aims to support scholarships for academically gifted students who are facing hardship or challenges.
Every $4,000 raised through donations will provide a scholarship for one student for 12 months. This financial assistance can support expenses such as tuition fees, text books, travel, computer equipment, living expenses and accommodation costs.
Your donation to this mission will go directly to support these students and help relieve the more extreme economic pressures they face daily. Through this support, scholarship recipients will be able to focus on their studies and academic achievement.
Being awarded a scholarship is also a validation of a student's ability. The recipient gains a sense of recognition which encourages not only a greater sense of self-confidence, but a genuine determination to strive for excellence in their academic study. The experience of receiving a scholarship for a disadvantaged student can, quite literally, be transformational.
Every cent of each donation to the Shaping Futures Scholarship Fund goes directly to ensure that talented students who are committed to taking up the opportunity to study at the University of Newcastle are not deterred from doing so for financial reasons.
All administrative costs for the scholarship fund will be met fully by the University of Newcastle.
Donations to the University of Newcastle of $2.00 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Why do we need more scholarships for disadvantaged and gifted students?
Full-time students pay from $4,500 - $9,000 per year for tuition fees. This does not include textbooks, photocopying, computer equipment lab manuals, study materials, travel or living away from home expenses.
48 per cent of the Hunter's population comes from low socio-economic (financially disadvantaged) backgrounds. Close to one-third of our students fall into this category, almost double the national average participation rate. We are very proud of the support we provide to our disadvantaged students but we need more help.
Research undertaken across all universities revealed that 22.7 per cent of full-time student were found to regularly skip classes because they needed to attend employment. And one in eight students (12.8 per cent) indicated that they regularly went without food or other necessities because they could not afford them.
(Source: The Australian University Student Finances 2006 Final Report)
The Shaping Future Scholarships Fund is a general scholarship fund which has been set up by the University of Newcastle Foundation. The scheme is entirely funded by generous donations from alumni, donors, businesses and the community.
Anyone can contribute to this fund. Any amount is gratefully received – no matter how big or small. It all goes towards providing a $4,000 scholarship. The more money raised the more scholarships can be awarded and the more students will be helped.
To be eligible for a Shaping Future Scholarship students need to be academically gifted but also facing hardship from factors such as being from a low socio-economic background, coming from a rural or remote area, living with a disability, or have carer or parenting responsibilities.
Students must also be enrolled in any year of any undergraduate degree program and be a full time student. Both international and domestic students are eligible for this scholarship.
We want students to be able to shape their future and change their lives forever through obtaining an education!
This year we received 235 applications for a Shaping Futures scholarship.
So many students need our support and thanks to the generosity of donors throughout the 2012 Annual Appeal we have been able to offer the Shaping Futures Scholarship to 15 of these students in 2013.
Unfortunately this means that the other 220 students who also asked for help this year, missed out.
Meet some our Shaping Futures scholarship recipients.
Felicity Collis
Felicity comes from a turbulent home life and was kicked out of home days before she was to sit her Higher School Certificate. After going through an extremely difficult and emotional time Felicity sadly attempted suicide in 2009. She has since undergone treatment to get help and has pushed herself through to the third year of a Bachelor of Social Work with no family support.
"My story is not one that I tell from a place of sadness, but of determination and hope that one day I will enrich another person's life. Being awarded a scholarship is something I will hold close to me for the rest of my life. I feel so proud to be recognised for what I am doing. It's an amazing feeling that someone really believes in me."
Jenny Craft
Jenny's eldest daughter Imogen suffers from a disability that medical professionals are still unable to diagnose. Imogen requires constant and specialised care fuelling Jenny's decision to obtain a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and transform her family's life.
"I've sometimes wondered whether I could cross the finish line but it's been an achievement to get this far and I feel like now I can manage to keep going.
"Thank you so much for supporting this scholarship. It means more to me than I can put into words that all my hard work as a student and carer is valued and recognised by others."
Marcos Cousens-Schulz
Central Coast student Marcos Cousens-Schulz who suffers from cerebral palsy is one of the 2013 Shaping Futures Scholarship recipients.
Marcos is studying a Bachelor of Information Technology and is going to use his scholarship to help pay for transport to and from his university lectures.
"We don't have any public transport where I live and if my mother is working I have to take a taxi to get to lectures and it costs around $80 each way.
"This scholarship will help ease the financial pressure on my family to pay for me to get to class."
Yannis Abraham
Yannis Abraham, is studying a Bachelor of Oral Health at the Central Coast campus at Ourimbah. In 2009 Yannis and his family arrived in Australia as refugees from Afghanistan. Yannis had no formal education before coming to Australia.
In just four years Yannis has learnt English, completed his Year 12 education at TAFE and is now in his second year at university. He dreams of becoming a dentist one day.
"When I was a small boy growing up in Afghanistan my father, who has now passed away, used to ask me to examine him like a doctor. It was our game. I am so proud I am finally making his and my dream of entering the healthcare profession a reality.
"I want to make a contribution in Australia - a country that has changed my life. But eventually I would like to go back to Afghanistan and help my fellow countrymen."
I am a firm believer in the transformative power of education and cannot overstate enough the impact a scholarship can make on a student's life and future prospects. It can literally transform a student's life and make the difference between completing a degree or dropping out.
We have such a high rate of participation of students from low socio-economic backgrounds (26.75 per cent, almost double the national average). Through the Shaping Futures Scholarship Fund, we want to support our most needy students by increasing the number of scholarships for them.
So many of our students work long hours to pay for their university courses and living expenses, often in the face of much adversity. Your support will help make a difference to the lives of students and to the future of our community.
I am proud to have been asked to lead our Annual Appeal. It not only has the support of the University but also the Executive Committee of Alumni.
If you are a past student, a current or former staff member, a donor or a supporter of the University of Newcastle I would encourage you to give. You can directly help a student achieve their goals and dreams. On behalf of the University of Newcastle thank you for your support.
Keryl Kavanagh
I have seen first-hand the challenges so many of our students face. Giving to a student scholarship is just a small, very tangible way to help. I see it over and over again - the student who receives a scholarship today overcomes their hurdles and makes an impact on all of those around them tomorrow.
Peter Brecht
So many people and organisations out there need help and every one of them is probably worthy in their own right. I chose to give where I feel connected - to my university, my community. It's not about being recognised or getting accolades, there just aren't enough scholarships for these amazing students to go around and they are crying out for help.
For me it's the quiet knowledge of having done something that can change one person's life forever, and that will live on through those they touch on their journey.
How do I make a donation?
There are a number of ways you can make a donation. The University of Newcastle can accept donations via credit card, cheque or money order.
ONLINE
You can make a donation to help our talented but disadvantaged students via our secure website.
CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER
If you wish to make a donation by cheque or money order download a donation form (PDF, 597KB).
CONTACT US
Contact the University of Newcastle Foundation
T +61 2 4921 7453
F +61 2 4921 6889
