GO Foundation alumni Makayla Rodrigues wants others to know trusting your gut and backing yourself is the greatest form of self-investment.

The Gomeroi and Worimi woman recently completed her Social Work Bachelor's degree and is working as a First Nations Community Development Worker at community counselling and support service Interrelate.

At the back end of high school, her scholarship with the GO Foundation helped with the transition into university life and studies - with the added complexities of COVID lockdowns.

"I got early entry into the University of Wollongong with no idea of what I needed for uni," Ms Rodrigues told National Indigenous Times, with GO's financial support allowing for her to buy her first laptop and set up for studying at home.

"It definitely made a massive difference for me."

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" and "where the majority of our our young mob, go to school and get educated" GO chief executive, Biripi and Gadigal woman Charlene Davidson told National Indigenous Times.

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

They've doubled the number of university scholarships awarded in recent years.

Earlier this year, Governor-General Sam Mostyn was appointed as Patron after a decade previously on their board.

It's a move poised to "make a difference in the lives of young Indigenous people" and "greatly enhance" GO's work empowering First Nations Students towards their dreams and being future leaders, Ms Davidson said.

Ms Mostyn has helped "bring Adam and Michael's vision to life", Ms Davidson added.

For the Governor General, GO's strength is supporting the students to dictate their own futures.

"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.

"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."

"Driven by change", around half of students' interests centre around "caring professions", including social work, medicine, health and into law and justice, Ms Davidson said.

Ms Rodrigues shares that passion.

"I think anything in community and anything with mob is where my passion lies".

She has an encouraging message for any young person considering pursuing a GO scholarship.

"Taking any opportunity is worth it…trust yourself and back yourself, as hard as it can be sometimes to follow your gut and not be stressed about what you want to do and where you go," Ms Rodrigues said.

"That's the best investment you'll ever make in yourself. Sometimes you don't know the outcome unless you give it a crack, right?"