Housing Trust will provide vital resources and support to 28 tenants with the presentation of this year’s Tylah West Education Scholarships today.
The annual scholarship program has been running since 2017 and aims to mitigate some of the disadvantages people on low incomes face in pursuing education, training and workplace opportunities.
Now in its seventh year, the program has supported 122 tenants and distributed almost $136,000 in funds. Scholarships have been used to offset the costs of school, university and TAFE fees, laptops, equipment, internet services, tools, textbooks and work boots.
Major local sponsors have come onboard this year including South32 and Commonwealth Bank.
South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal Vice President Operations Peter Baker said “We are pleased to support Housing Trust’s scholarship program.
“Housing Trust has provided safe, secure and affordable housing to the Illawarra community for decades. This partnership will support educational and training pathways for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander tenants, setting a strong foundation for future employment opportunities.
“We also look forward to fielding a team in the Housing Trust Charity Golf Day to raise funds for the scholarship program.”
The funds from South32 will provide a boost to our Tylah West Scholarships and significantly increase the impact of the program. The funds are specifically for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants.
The scholarships were established in memory of Tylah West who was a part of Housing Trust’s Aboriginal traineeship program. The 2023 scholarships will be presented by Tylah’s grandmother Mary Austin and Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair during a short ceremony, followed by a morning tea.
Housing Trust is pleased to announce our very first Housing Trust UOW Opportunity Scholarship Recipient, Chelsea Martin. The scholarship application was open to first year students beginning their studies at the University of Wollongong who at the time of application lived in social housing in the Illawarra or Shoalhaven. Recipients will receive $5,000 each year for 3 years of study. Chelsea will be studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science.
The Housing Trust Charity Golf Day raising funds for our education scholarships will return to Wollongong Golf Club on Friday May 26, 2023.
