Millicent Spencer
Hume council will offer a new scholarship program for year 10 students from 2023.
The Youth Opportunities Scholarships will be awarded to students who are experiencing hardship while also demonstrating a continued effort and progression towards achieving their goals.
Students can be nominated by their schools for either a financial support scholarship of $1000 to provide assistance towards purchasing textbooks or specialist equipment, or a $1000 tutoring support scholarship to pay for tutoring.
Hume mayor Joseph Haweil said he hopes the scholarship program will fill a gap that has been identified by council.
“We’ve identified a gap in our support and award recognition services at that very critical year 9 level at high school,” he said.
“I think it is our responsibility to support and encourage young people in Hume.”
Councillors also agreed to further expand the current Educational Scholarships program by offering all grade 6 students in the municipality two swim vouchers from 2023.
Cr Haweil said the vouchers will act as an incentive for students in their final years of primary school but also recognise their educational journey.
“Students will be able to make use of them over the summer at the end of their graduation [while also] enhancing their health and wellbeing,” he said.
“Throughout this suite of programs what we are committing to do is both recognising, supporting, and encouraging young people throughout their journey at high school through a range of support programs.”
