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Scholarship Nominees

2025
Marilyn Hilla – South Australia

Marilyn Hilla – South Australia

Marilyn Hilla connected with the Zahra Foundation, a domestic violence specialised adult community education provider, in January 2024 when she started it’s 12 month Empower program. After completing the course,…

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2025
Sharon Ziwacha – NSW

Sharon Ziwacha – NSW

Sharon is an exceptional adult learner whose courage, determination and compassion shine through in everything she does. Having arrived in Australia with her husband and young children in June 2024,…

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2025
Tiana Hokins – Tasmania

Tiana Hokins – Tasmania

Adult learning has been a prominent theme throughout Tiana’s life – she has consistently been both a learner herself and someone who is dedicated to assisting other learners to thrive….

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2025
Thi Bong (Hana) Pham – Victoria

Thi Bong (Hana) Pham – Victoria

When Vietnamese-born, Hana first connected with Pines Learning in 2023, she was extremely shy and reticent to communicate. Enrolling in an Introductory/Basic level English class, Hana has since blossomed into…

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2025
Monira Ghulami – ACT

Monira Ghulami – ACT

As soon as Monira joined MTC ACT Belconnen’s Digital Literacy and Job Search course earlier this year, she set about learning how to write a cover letter and search for…

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2025
Nina Posner – Victoria

Nina Posner – Victoria

When Nina first came to Opendoor Disability Employment Services (formerly WCIG), she was new to Melbourne and unsure where to start to fulfil her eagerness to work. Expressing interest in…

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2025
Catherine Douglas – Tasmania

Catherine Douglas – Tasmania

Like many Tasmanians, Catherine’s adult learning journey has taken longer than most as she has faced many challenges along the way. Tasmania’s northwest coast, where Catherine grew up and again…

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2025
Liyan Haley – VIC

Liyan Haley – VIC

During her time learning English as an Additional Language, Liyan has developed the confidence, skills and passion that are now driving her to pursue a career as an English as…

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2025
Dianne Hardlitschke – South Australia

Dianne Hardlitschke – South Australia

Dianne, currently in the recovery phase of her journey from domestic violence, wanted to expand her knowledge and skills in areas such as healthy relationships, informed decision-making, effective communication, and…

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2024
Kirsty Marshall, Victoria

Kirsty Marshall, Victoria

Kirsty Marshall was immediately interested when she heard that the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Sustaining Economic Empowerment and Dignity for Women (SEED) program provides financial coaching and access to educational…

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2024
Annette Leishman, Victoria

Annette Leishman, Victoria

Annette Leishman clearly values and embraces learning in all forms – formal, informal and everything in between. Annette’s university education led her to becoming a teacher and, more recently a…

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2024
Mathew Bishop, South Australia

Mathew Bishop, South Australia

Mathew Bishop began in the Adult Literacy Program at PAE Libraries in 2021, as one of the first participants in this program which began as part of a Council led…

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