Annual Giving
St Hilda’s is committed to providing young women, from all backgrounds, with the opportunity to shine. Our philosophy is that girls with potential should have the opportunity to pursue their aspirations, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Our needs-based bursaries are open to those students who are not currently attending the School and provide financial assistance to support them to realise their educational aspirations.
These bursaries change lives.
We invite you to contribute to our annual Ignite a Spark giving campaign, which will provide funds to support our needs-based bursaries for students from low socio-economic and rural backgrounds, and those who identify as First Nations.
The Need
An Australian research study prepared by the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) for the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University, ‘Educational Opportunity 2020’ has found there are significant gaps for First Nations children, children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and children living in remote areas; these children are at least twice as likely as their peers to have a developmental vulnerability. At St Hilda’s, we believe we have an obligation to play our part in closing the education opportunity gap for girls. By supporting a girl in need, you are helping to make generational change.
The commitment to providing holistic support is in alignment with the national goals for education and training in Australia from the 2019 Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration:
Education in Australia is not only there for academic learning but also designed to promote creative and confident individuals who have a sense of self-worth, self-awareness and personal identity that enables them to manage their emotional, mental, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being.
Bursaries at St Hilda’s
St Hilda’s provides bursaries that offer girls not only an exceptional academic education. Students are part of a community that values well-being. Students are given support to transition into the school, take advantage of the opportunities in the cocurricular program and build a strong network of friends and mentors. St Hilda’s goes beyond providing every student with academic support. In Year 7 all students participate in our Belonging course that shares the traditions of St Hilda’s including our values and skills and strategies in the art of mindfulness to discover how mental well-being assists students in navigating the challenges of transitioning to secondary school and a new community.
Past bursary students comment on the strong learning culture deeply embedded in the heart of St Hilda’s that encourages intrinsic motivation and its role in achieving your personal best. It highlights St Hilda’s culture – where girls lift girls to do their best.
The opportunity to come to a school like St Hilda’s gave me the academic extension that I wasn’t getting in the country. It was amazing to see the difference in the dynamic of the classrooms; the respect that the students showed their teachers here is at another level.
Jayde Hope-Blyth (2015)
How you can make a difference
Needs-based bursaries can provide girls who may not have the means to attend St Hilda’s the opportunity to flourish in our learning environment. With your help, St Hilda’s has an opportunity to build a diverse community of learners who have a genuine desire and appreciation for education.
Our needs-based bursaries provide a St Hilda’s education to a girl who would not have the opportunity, due to financial means, to attend.
We invite you to join us to make a difference.
This year we are aiming to raise funding for one day girl and one boarder.
However, what we’d love you to consider is pledging to make this donation over the six years of these girls’ senior schooling. Making a recurring donation helps to ensure the sustainability of these bursaries and allows us to continue to offer bursaries every year to those in need.
Our family bursary was established in memory of my mother’s family and the one grandparent I never knew. My wife and I feel fortunate to be able to provide an educational opportunity to young people. Who otherwise may not be able to afford it. This seems a very purposeful endeavour, and from our experience seeing a student make the most of this opportunity gives us great pleasure and a sense of achievement.
Anonymous Bursary Donor since 2019
Your contribution can help us build a diverse community of learners who have a genuine desire and appreciation for education. Our needs-based bursaries provide a St Hilda’s education to a girl who would not have the opportunity, due to financial means, to attend. We hope you will join us in supporting our mission to provide access to education and create a brighter future for our girls and Ignite a Spark!
Fiona Johnston, Principal