Adult Learners Week scholarships are awarded to outstanding adult learners to enable them to continue learning by either taking a new learning pathway or continuing an existing one. Nominations are received from across the adult education sector and nominees are from all walks of life.
2024 winners
Support to continue taking their learning journey
John was a community leader who wanted to be able to read and write, Kirsty Marshall now has her confidence and self-esteem back, while Tahnee Baker refused to let a stroke derail her adult education journey. And young mum, Jypsy-Lee, is striving for a better life for she and her daughter. Read their inspiring learning journeys here.
The #ALW2024 winners were:
John Lindsay – Tauondi (SA)
Kirsty Marshall – SEED project, Brotherhood of St Laurence (Vic)
Tahnee Baker – Tamworth Community College (NSW)
Jypsey-Lee Banfield-Paterson (NT)
Learning Changes Lives prizes – $500
Melanie Cameron – Sunshine Coast Libraries (Qld)
Russell Constable – Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre (Vic)
Piyanut (Nuk) Clear – Here2Help (NSW)
Ashleigh Bertram – Read Write Now (WA)
Ting Xu – Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre (Vic)
2023 winners
Proving it’s never too late to start learning
Tim couldn’t wait to leave school, now he can’t wait for each new semester to begin. Rebecca writes everyday after previously avoiding writing. Darren needed to study so he could help others with a similar history of alcohol and drug addiction and now has a Degree in Counselling. Hayley had no idea how different studying as an adult would be, while Mikayla is studying for her own and her children’s futures.
The #ALW2023 scholarship winners were:
Tim Purvis – Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House (Victoria)
Rebecca Symes# – 26TEN (Tasmania)
Darren Kelly – Read Write Now (WA)
Hayley Drummond (ACT)
Mikayla Quor# – Deniliquin TAFE (NSW)
Read their learning stories here.
#Rebecca and Mikayla’s scholarships were made available through the Learning Changes Lives Foundation. Visit the Foundation’s website to see more of its impact.
2022 winners
Connecting to learning changed their lives
Terrence took the plunge at 27 and decided to do something about his reading and maths. Elsa spent 10 years as a stay-at-home mum home before she ventured out and did a parenting course. Maya was encouraged by her workplace to learn skills that would help her on the job. Now all three are blooming. Terrence is planning to enrol at uni, Elsa has gone onto English classes and is loving it and there’s no stopping Maya who has discovered a passion for learning and has found a dream career.
The #ALW2022 scholarship winners were:
- Terrence Lennon-Wingfield – Tauondi Aboriginal College – SA
- Maya Willis – Kiama Community College – NSW
- Elsa Debessa – WCIG – VIC
2021 winners
Returning to learning changed their story
James had the courage to ask for help, now he has built the foundation skills he needs to enrol in a certificate or diploma course. Life on the farm can be tough but Tracey had the tenacity to get the qualifications she needed to support her family. Alyssa overcame many obstacles to become an outstanding adult learner. Now she is passionate about helping people who have traumas in their lives.
The #ALW2021 scholarship recipients were:
- James Hamilton Welch – Canberra Institute of Technology — ACT
- Tracey Hosking – Community College Northern Inland Inc — NSW
- Alyssa Hand — Hackham West Community Centre — SA
2020 winners
A celebration of achievement
Shane Fitzsimmons, Commissioner of Resilience NSW announced the scholarship winners at the online launch of Adult Learners Week on September 1, 2020.
Chris was traumatised by domestic violence and struggled to speak to people or leave the house, now she’s a confident communicator who looks forward to empowering others. Ghazal was depressed and isolated by her lack of English, now she’s dreaming of the next step in her career. Loran lacked confidence about her ability to study, now she’s found a new life and is giving back to her community. Meet the winners of the 2020 Adult Learners Week scholarships, awarded to outstanding adult learners to enable them to continue learning.
The #ALW2020 scholarship recipients were:
- Chris Roland – TAFESA — SA
- Ghazal Sharhani – PRACE — VIC
- Loran McKean – Bass Coast Adult Learning — VIC
2019 winners
A young father who can now read stories to his daughter, a formerly homeless mother of five who now has a bright future, and a young woman with severe hearing loss who can now communicate using Auslan were the recipients of the 2019 Adult Learners Week scholarships.
The Hon. Steve Irons MP announced the scholarship winners at the Adult Learners Week national launch held at North Metropolitan TAFE in Perth.
Adult Learners Week scholarships are awarded to outstanding adult learners to enable them to continue learning by either taking a new learning pathway or continuing an existing one.
Nominations are received from across the adult education sector and nominees are from all walks of life.
The #ALW2019 scholarship recipients were:
- Greg Nelson – Read Write Now – WA
- Kylie Mahon – Community Colleges Northern Inland – NSW
- Anita Burfield – The Deaf Society – NSW