Twenty young people in the Dubbo electorate will receive cash grants of $1,000 to help achieve their academic aspirations and training goals as part of a NSW Government scholarship program.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Scholarships will help lift the load for students in their final years of high school and early years of tertiary education.
“The program is an investment in the future of young people growing up in social housing, or who are in out-of-home care,” Mr Saunders said.
“These scholarships aim to improve school completion rates, boost vocational and tertiary qualifications and enhance work readiness, so young people can break the cycle of disadvantage.
“Sometimes, due to a range of circumstances, young people find themselves in situations that are unfortunate and not of their own making. This is a way of helping them gain an education and boost their post-school prospects.”
The program is available to young people living in social housing or on the housing register, students receiving private rental assistance, or those living in crisis, supported accommodation or out-of-home care.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said recipients can use their funds for education-related expenses such as textbooks, IT equipment or internet access.
“We want to see young people growing up in social housing or out-of-home care break the cycle of disadvantage and live long, happy and healthy lives. These scholarships are one of the ways the NSW Government is helping to make that happen,” Mr Henskens said.
DCJ Scholarships are funded under Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW, a ten-year plan to drive better outcomes for social housing tenants.