A new scholarship is empowering Indigenous university students to pursue higher education and build careers in key professional fields.
The Perera Foundation Indigenous Scholarship, a partnership between Western Sydney University (WSU) and Castle Group, is offering up to $45,000 to assist new or continuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students at WSU studying accounting, finance, business, law, commerce or property.
WSU recently recently became the first Sydney-based university to have 1,000 Indigenous students enrolled, marking a significant milestone in Indigenous student participation, success and achievement.
Western Sydney University Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education director, Josh Mason, said the scholarship would provide practical support to students as they worked towards their academic and career goals.
"Our Indigenous students bring enormous talent, ambition and potential to the University and the wider Western Sydney community," Mr Mason said.
"By helping to meet the cost of their studies, the Perera Foundation Indigenous Scholarship will support recipients to pursue their goals and succeed in higher education."
Castle Group Founder and Group CEO, Ritchie Perera, who established the Perera Foundation in 2014, said the scholarship reflected the Foundation's long-term commitment to creating meaningful opportunities in the communities Castle Group calls home.
"Western Sydney has been central to Castle Group's story, and we believe successful businesses have a responsibility to invest in the communities that support them," Mr Perera said.
"This scholarship is about opening doors and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to turn their education into lasting professional opportunities. This is an investment in the next generation of Indigenous leaders and in the future of Western Sydney."
Castle Group CEO of Property and Western Sydney University graduate, Ranisha Clarke, said the partnership reflected the role education can play in creating long-term opportunity.
"As a Western Sydney University graduate, I know firsthand how education can open doors and shape a person's future," Ms Clarke said.
"This partnership is about backing talented Indigenous students and supporting them to build careers in fields that will play an important role in the future of our businesses, industries and communities."
Information about eligibility and applications is available via the Perera Foundation Indigenous Scholarship page on the Western Sydney University website.
