The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) has launched a national campaign calling for education equality, arguing greater access to opportunity could make an Indigenous Prime Minister possible in Australia's lifetime.
The campaign follows Newspoll data showing 23 per cent of Australians believe they will see an Indigenous Prime Minister in their lifetime, with 50 per cent believing they never will.
AIEF notes the figures reflect inequality of opportunity rather than a lack of capability among young Indigenous Australians.
For nearly two decades, the organisation has delivered a scholarship model aimed at closing the education gap, supporting Indigenous students to complete Year 12 and transition into tertiary study and employment.
An independent KPMG evaluation found AIEF students are 2.3 times more likely to complete Year 12 than the overall Indigenous population, while AIEF Year 12 graduates are four times more likely to attend university.
AIEF currently supports more than 400 scholarship students and over 1,000 graduates from communities across every state and territory.
Among them is Latiesha Halliday, a proud Tiwi, Anmatyerre and Torres Strait Islander woman, who graduated from St Peters Lutheran College in 2012 on an AIEF Scholarship before completing a university degree and moving into senior leadership roles.
She is now a Director on the Board of the National Apology Foundation and works at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and outlined how education helped shape her pathway.
"Through the support I received from an AIEF Scholarship, education became my pathway to leadership," Ms Halliday said.
"I'm not only leading within my own family, I'm showing young people everywhere that when education is accessible, their potential is limitless."
Ms Halliday's focus has shifted to creating opportunities for the next generation.
"I feel a responsibility to keep opening doors for others," she said.
"My two young boys are growing up seeing what's possible when educational opportunities are equal, and that's a legacy I'm proud to build."
As part of the campaign, Archibald finalist Mathew Lynn has created an imagined portrait of Australia's first Indigenous female Prime Minister, with hopes it will eventually take a place in Parliament House.
AIEF Executive Director, Andrew Penfold, said the organisation's work is delivering measurable outcomes.
"AIEF is opening doors to opportunity that have been closed to Indigenous students for far too long," Mr Penfold said.
"Through scholarships and career support, students are able to achieve real, measurable impact. Creating pathways to parliament, boardrooms and influence isn't just life changing, it's nation changing.
"With genuine collaboration between government and the private sector, AIEF students and alumni are becoming leaders whose impact strengthens families, communities and the nation."
