The GO Foundation has welcomed Governor-General Sam Mostyn as an official Patron of the organisation.

The Foundation's chief executive, Biripi and Gadigal woman Charlene Davidson, said the Governor-General's appointment as Patron after a decade on their board will "greatly enhance" their efforts empowering First Nations Students to reach their dreams and become leaders in their communities.

Founded in 2009 by AFL greats Michael O'Loughlin and Adam Goodes, GO Foundation has awarded scholarships to close to 2000 students since 2014 across their footprint in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra.

664 students, according to last year's impact report, were supported in 2024.

60 per cent of scholarships go to Indigenous young women, and over 90 per cent to public school students, under the organisation's own targets, acknowledging "the important role that women play in our families and communities, as well as ensuring that our women and young girls have equal opportunities" and "where the majority of our young mob go to school and get educated", Ms Davison told National Indigenous Times.

Ms Davison said cultural and aspirational, access and opportunities and the financial component are equal core components of their delivery.

She added students engaged with GO attend and complete schooling at above the national standard, something the organisation is deeply proud of.

In recent years they've doubled the number of university scholarships they've awarded.

The Governor-General has helped "bring Adam and Michael's vision to life" and shape the foundation with her contributions, Ms Davison stated.

"Her passion for education and social justice and equality has really left a lasting impression and impact on our organisation and the lives of young First Nation students that we support," she said.

"We really feel that Ms Mostyn's continued support and advocacy through her patronage will really greatly enhance our efforts to not only create what we think is positive change, but also make a difference in the lives of young Indigenous people in our country."

Both told National Indigenous Times a key element in GO's strength is supporting the students to dictate their own futures and follow whatever pursuit it is their personally passionate for, and an underpinning commitment to culture as informing the work and young people's engagement.

"That is their decision and GO doesn't predetermine what success is, other than committing to doing the work and setting a bit of a plan for what that looks like for the individual students," the Governor-General told National Indigenous Times: "It's that young person's decision to commit to education being their pathway for the success they want to have."

Each student's ambitions and successes on their own path can then have a greater impact in their families, next generations and communities, Ms Mostyn said.

Ms Davison explained around half of students' interests centre around "caring professions", including social work, medicine, health and into law and justice.

"Our students are driven by change," she said.

"A lot of them are driven by, you know, injustices that they've seen in their own family or communities, and want to do something, be in a field that is around helping and making a difference… those professions where they can really change systems, inform change and really make a difference and improve outcomes for our mob."

She added education, as a key enabler for all people, is "critically important" for Closing the Gap.

Forward planning includes consideration for further expansion of their footprint across the country, while at the short term, with the current strategy period, continuing their focus in the areas they now operate, expansion of university scholarships, career-experience programs with alumni input welcomed in setting future strategy, Ms Davison said.

"I know how effective these scholarships are and how deeply held the views are about supporting scholars and their families, and I've seen the impact it's been having," Ms Mostyn told National Indigenous Times.