Scholarships for disadvantaged students aren’t just an opportunity to receive an education — they’re the first step in breaking the cycle of financial struggle. They can make a key difference in a young person’s life.
If you’re looking for a way to reach your full academic potential or a way to give your child the best possible high schooling, a scholarship might be the answer for you. But what exactly is a scholarship for disadvantaged students? What are the scholarship options available, who is eligible and what do they entail?
As an organisation that has awarded over 600 scholarships across more than 320 schools in every state and territory of Australia, we will explain the 4 most important things you need to know about scholarships for disadvantaged students in this blog.
Life-changing scholarships
Established in 2016, The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship Program helps female scholars from low socioeconomic circumstances — who have limited access to academic resources, technology, financial aid or, in worst-case scenarios, even food — complete high school and build direct pathways to tertiary education.
Our scholarships have provided hard-working young women with the financial support, educational tools and resources to help them and their families through tough times to a brighter future.
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Who is eligible for our scholarships?
Perhaps the most obvious question about our scholarships for disadvantaged students is who is actually eligible to receive one. Our foundation offers two scholarships, the Harding Miller Education Foundation (HMEF) Scholarship and The Quinn Femelle Scholarship.
To be entitled to receive the HMEF Scholarship you must:
- Be a female student in a public high school.
- A year 8 student at the time of your application.
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- Have high academic results or high potential.
- Be in a low socio-economic environment.
To be awarded the Quinn Femelle Scholarship you must:
- Be a female student at a public school in Queensland.
- Have proven high academic potential and dedication.
- Have demonstrated financial or personal hardship.
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What do the scholarships entail?
Once you have deciphered whether you or a child in your life is eligible for one of our scholarships, you’ll need to be well aware of everything that is awarded with the granting of our scholarships for disadvantaged students.
A full HMEF Scholarship is valued at $20,000. It includes a high-quality laptop, which is gifted during the first year, as well as 4 years of:
- Ongoing online IT support and homework assistance.
- High-speed internet connection.
- $2500 worth of virtual or face-to-face tutoring.
- A prepaid card for essential school needs such as uniforms, textbooks and school excursions.
- Access to a personal coach with educational experience who’ll support and guide you through the four years of the program.
- Access to our growing enrichment program that’ll help introduce you to a range of career options to broaden your professional and tertiary education horizons. Some of our partners include the University of Sydney, the University of NSW, the University of New England, Google, NAB, 3M, Mastercard, EY and Baker McKenzie to name a few.
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How to apply for the HMEF scholarship for disadvantaged students
In order to be accepted for one of our scholarships, you’ll need to complete an application first. Our applications open during term 3 every year. First, you’ll need to create an application account on our online portal and confirm your account via an email you’ll receive from our team. Once confirmed, log into your account — then simply follow the steps to apply and upload the following documents:
- Two school reports: year 7, semester 2 and year 8, semester 1
- Your NAPLAN report
- A signed parental/guardian consent form
- A reference letter from your principal
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How are the girls selected for the scholarships?
All scholarship applications are reviewed by a selection panel made up of representatives from The Public Education Foundation, the Harding Miller Education Foundation, The Department of Education and independent panel members. Each application is thoroughly reviewed and assessed against the required criteria. Once all applications have been considered, the selection panel will give their top picks to the Harding Miller Education Foundation Board for further consideration and approval.
Every applicant, parent or guardian and principal will be contacted via email about the outcome of your application before the end of term 4 — so you will know well in advance whether you received one of our scholarships.
Apply for The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship Program today
If you’re a bright, hard-working young woman in year 8 committed to reaching your full potential and giving your family a helping hand with educational expenses, one of our scholarships for disadvantaged students could change your life. Apply for our scholarship programs today or reach out to us online to find out whether you’re eligible, what the scholarships entail and how to apply. Our team is always on-hand to help and would love to hear from you.
