University News

Shaping a better tomorrow together

On Gifting Day, 9 March, our global community came together to make a collective impact through kindness. And what a day it was. Together we showed the extraordinary power of collective action – raising an incredible $323,118 in 24 hours.

Dr Kelvin Kong, Gifting Day project champion and ambassador More than 2,500 donors, alumni, staff, students, volunteers, ambassadors, event participants and live stream viewers came together across 10 countries with a common goal: to shape a better tomorrow.

Here’s how your generosity is already creating positive and lasting impact across our community and beyond.

Shaping Futures Scholarships

Your remarkable generosity raised $54,245 for Shaping Futures Scholarships and had an amazing impact which allowed:

13 additional scholarships to be created for students in need
more support to be directed to students in need from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds
more support to be directed to our Central Coast students
even more support for students facing hardship, including students with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

2NURFM

You raised $72,914 for 2NURFM, supported by Brian McGuigan AM who generously matched donations up to $25,000, to upgrade their equipment and create an enhanced listener experience. Stay tuned for better sound quality, live-streaming cameras and improved lighting so listeners can catch all the action as it happens.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research

You helped raise $45,177 to drive life-changing outcomes through important health initiatives, with the Aspen Foundation generously matching donations up to $25,000. Your generous donations have established a dedicated role to focus on the design and implementation of regional, place-based strategies to strengthen Aboriginal Health Research, while also acting as a resource for the Community.

Two grants have been established for Aboriginal Community-led Research, creating a process to allow Communities to commission health research. We are working with the Awabakal Medical Service (Hunter Region) and the Yerin Eleanor Duncan Medical Service (Central Coast) to focus on research areas that are important to the Community.

Science and Engineering Challenge

Your generosity, combined with generous support from Google who matched donations up to $25,000, raised $37,068 to inspire students through the Science and Engineering Challenge. Over 5,000 students have been involved in the Challenge this year, including high numbers of girls and students from regional, rural or remote areas. Thank you for inspiring a new generation to consider a future career in science and engineering.

Alumni House

As a community you helped raise $64,942 for Alumni House, a place for connection, celebration and conversation. This includes generous support from Professor Alex Zelinsky AO and his wife, Olga. These funds will help to create facilities such as a mentoring pod where alumni can give back their time and expertise to students.

HunterWiSE

You raised $2,340 to support and empower women in STEM. Your generous donations will help our teachers and researchers inspire even more young women in the early years of high school to pursue a career in STEM.

College of Human and Social Futures Shaping Futures Scholarships

Your kindness raised $7,197 to support students and remove barriers to achieving academic success in higher education. Two additional scholarships will be created for students in need.

Excellence Scholarships

Your generosity, with matched donations from the University’s Academic Division, raised $29,000 to support students through Excellence Scholarships, helping high achieving students continue to exceed expectations and create positive change.

Area of Greatest Need (Endowment Fund)

Together you raised $10,235 to support our Area of Greatest Need. Your generosity will advance the University’s work and our goal of enriching and strengthening our valued communities by helping us adjust and thrive in a changing world.

I was fortunate to be awarded three Shaping Futures Scholarships during my university studies which greatly helped to positively change the trajectory of not only my life, but also both of my daughters. I am proud of my achievements and could not have done it without the support of Shaping Futures Scholarships. That is why I chose to be an ambassador and donor for Gifting Day – to give others the chance I had.”

Shantelle Common
Bachelor of Social Science, 2020
Gifting Day ambassador and donor

To find out more about Gifting Day and how you can be involved, go to giftingday.newcastle.edu.au or contact Bec Stone by calling 02 4921 8612 or emailing donor-relations@newcastle.edu.au

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