Ways of supporting the Institute

You can invest in the future of the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment through giving donations that contribute to:

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships and prizes recognise excellence in academic study. Through the Farrell Institute Environmental Research Scholar Awards, we can provide the extra financial support that attracts exceptional students to study environmental sustainability and conduct environmental research in our University. These students will be making a substantial impact on the future sustainability of our region and nation.

Scholarships also benefit students in disadvantaged situations, such as financial hardship, who otherwise might not have had the opportunity for University study. Help us to help our future students achieve by donating to the Farrell Institute Environmental Research Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are awarded annually from the proceeds of this fund.

As a major donor to a scholarship or prize, you will have the opportunity to be involved in the selection process of recipients, will have naming rights, and you will be informed about the student's progress throughout the course of the scholarship. Giving to scholarships and prizes helps you build a connection with the leaders of tomorrow and are a rewarding way to support talent.

To establish a scholarship or prize, please fill out the appropriate donation form.

Environmental Research

We're proud of our strong record in research. The University of Newcastle is consistently ranked in the top 10 Australian universities for research output and has a reputation for being one of the ‘greenest’ Universities in Australia. By donating to environmental research at The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment, you can assist the Institute in building its reputation as a world class environmental institute which is making a significant contribution to the health and sustainability of our Hunter Region and beyond. You donation may profoundly change the world in which we live.

The Institute’s ultimate aim is to develop a full research team in its five core areas of environmental research;

  • clean air, land and water
  • ecosystem health and repair
  • resilient communities and cultures
  • strong and sustainable economy
  • climate variability and climate change

Bequests

Many people understand the immense value that their generous donation of a bequest can bring to the community and future generations. Bequests can help us to support major environmental research at the Institute as well as providing scholars with an opportunity for highly specialised study.

Your bequest could be:

  • A financial contribution of any amount
  • A gift-in-kind (a non-monetary donation such as art, books, collections, equipment etc)
  • A proportion of your estate or the residue of it after other distributions have been made

By making a bequest to The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment, you can continue to support the important work of research and education well into the future. There are many possibilities; please contact us for more information about how you can help.

For further information about bequests and for advice regarding wording of your will, please see our bequest brochure (PDF, 340KB).

Chairs and sponsored positions

Chairs or endowed professorships have long been recognised as both a hallmark of academic quality and a way for the University to honour it's most esteemed scholars and teachers. Professorships are reserved for scholars of national, or even international, stature, with highly distinguished records of teaching, research and publication. They constitute a time-honoured way to recruit or retain scholars with exceptional records of achievements.

By providing funds to endow a professorship, you can make a prominent and permanent investment into The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment. You can designate your gift for a chair in a particular area of study, provided this area is a priority. A chair established may be named in your honour, or someone's name you wish to honour.

Please see our policy on naming rights

Endowment fund

In a world of continual change and development, we need to respond proactively and creatively. By donating an endowment fund, you are supporting the future of our The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment. These donations may go toward funding research important to the Institute, or may be put aside and invested for the future. Invested funds can also provide scholarships for disadvantaged students.

In-kind donations

Donations don't need to be financial to make a difference. A gift-in-kind is a non-monetary gift usually in the form of a cultural gift such as books, art works and equipment.

Staff voluntary salary deductions

As a member of staff you can support the important work of The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment. The Staff Voluntary Salary Deduction Scheme allows you to arrange automatic payroll deductions to the Institute through the University Foundation. These donations are tax deductible, provided there is no tangible benefit to the donor, and make a considerable contribution to the Institute.

Volunteering

Volunteering your time and skills is an enjoyable and positive way that you can provide a highly valued contribution to the Institute. Volunteering returns many benefits including extending your skills and experience base, networking and developing friendships and recognition that you are taking positive action in promoting a better future for our community and world.

If you would like to volunteer your time to the Institute, please complete the attached form so we can contact you.

For more information, contact our office on 0249 215 700 or via email at farrell@newcastle.edu.au