Children in foster care, kinship care and other out-of-home care settings can face barriers to participating in the same opportunities as their peers. Through its Chance to Shine Scholarship program, OzChild is helping young people build confidence, pursue their goals and feel connected to their communities.

Starting high school can be daunting for any young person, but for Bianca*, who had already experienced significant upheaval in her young life, the transition felt especially overwhelming.

After moving into the care of her aunt and uncle, the 12-year-old began rebuilding her confidence in a stable and caring home. Even so, Bianca* continued to struggle with school attendance and worries about fitting in, and the prospect of starting high school only added to her anxiety.

"Starting high school is a major milestone for any young person," says Mevan Jayawardena, OzChild's Executive Director of Engagement and Experience. "For children who have faced significant change or uncertainty, having the right support around them can make that transition much easier."

One way that OzChild, a child and family welfare organisation, provides this support is through its Chance to Shine Scholarship program. Available to children and young people aged five-to-18 who are connected to OzChild services, the scholarship helps fund practical items and experiences that support learning, participation and connection, from school uniforms and technology to tutoring, camps and extracurricular activities.

A Chance to Shine Scholarship helped fund new school uniforms for Bianca*, easing financial pressure on her carers and helping her approach the move to high school with greater confidence.

"A school uniform, a laptop or a camp fee might seem like a small thing, but for some children it can be the difference between feeling included and feeling left out. The scholarship helps children take part in the same opportunities as their peers and build a stronger sense of belonging."

 

“The scholarship helps children take part in the same opportunities as their peers and build a stronger sense of belonging”

Today, Bianca's* school attendance sits at 100 per cent and she has been accepted into a private high school. She has made strong progress in therapy, her confidence has grown and she now looks forward to school each morning.

Bianca's* story highlights the difference practical support can make for children and young people navigating complex circumstances. OzChild supports children and young people in foster care, kinship care and other out-of-home care settings, while also working to strengthen families. "Our role is to create stability and opportunities that help children thrive," Mevan says.

Many of the opportunities the scholarship supports, from school camps and sporting activities to technology and tutoring, can place additional pressure on carers who are already managing the everyday costs of raising children in their care.

"Many carers are already managing a range of practical and unexpected costs," Mevan says. "The scholarship helps ensure children and young people can participate in the same educational, sporting and community opportunities as their peers."

Bianca's* experience is one of many stories demonstrating the impact of the scholarship. Alice*, a Year 11 student, is yet another student who was also assisted by the OzChild program, having received a printer that enabled her to continue studying while caring for her baby. 

While practical interventions such as the Chance to Shine Scholarship are helping change children's lives today, OzChild is also focused on creating lasting change for vulnerable children and families. This includes advocating for greater investment in therapeutic home-based care options such as Treatment Foster Care Australia, which helps children transition from residential care into family-based homes, as well as additional training and support for carers.

Together, these practical supports and broader reforms reflect OzChild's commitment to helping children not only overcome barriers today, but build brighter futures tomorrow.

"While practical support can have an immediate impact, we're also focused on improving the systems that support vulnerable children and families," Mevan says. 

"When young people feel included, supported and hopeful about their future, the benefits can last a lifetime."

*Names have been changed to protect privacy. 

Supporting early intervention

Equity Trustees, through the RM Ansett Trust, currently supports OzChild's Stepping Stones to School program, an early intervention school-readiness initiative delivered in partnership with Beyond the Bell across southwest Victoria.

The program helps children and families experiencing barriers to engagement build the skills, confidence and support needed for a positive start to school.

Find out more about Equity Trustees Philanthropy and Grant Funding

 Photo:OzChild