Scholarships

Western Chances Scholarship

Overview

Western Chances’s purpose is to reduce financial barriers to education for secondary school students. This scholarship aims to assist students in successfully completing Year 12 by providing financial support and encouragement throughout their secondary education.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Western Chances Scholarship, a student must:  

• Be enrolled at a government secondary school within one of the following council regions – Brimbank, City of Greater Geelong, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley or Wyndham, and/or reside within one of these local government areas. 
• Demonstrate motivation and commitment to education, evidenced through 90% attendance rate.
• Demonstrate talent through high academic/artistic achievement, motivation and commitment to education or a pathway.   Eligibility is met by the student performing at the ‘At Standard’ level across subjects with ‘Above Standard’ in 1-2 subjects aligned with their pathway. 
• Demonstrate financial need or hardship

What the Scholarship Includes

Scholarships range in value from $600 – $1,200 and support basic educational items such as textbooks, digital access, transport and specialist equipment. 

A Western Chances scholarship can support a variety of items including, but not limited to:

• Calculators, Computers, devices & software, Educational subscriptions,  Headphones (up to $250), Home internet fees (up to $450), Lecture & Study notes,  MYKI,  Specialist course specific equipment and/or uniform, tools, musical instruments, art materials etc directly relating to education pathway (up to $350),  Specialist study programs,  Stationery, printing & photocopying (up to $250), Study desk/chair (up to $200 each), Tertiary Application fees, Textbooks, Tutoring,  Uniform for logoed items (Up to $200), Year 12 school endorsed graduation/valedictory event (Up to $150), Year 12 specific jacket/top, Year 12 school study camp (Up to $250). 

How to Apply

Application Open and Close Dates

Applications typically open in Term 3 and close at the end of Term 3. Students must be identified and nominated by the school. Western Chances provides schools with a limited number of application spots and schools are informed of this number in Term 3. From there, students are identified by staff and offered application spots. 

If a student feels they may be eligible, they are welcome to reach out to see if it is possible for them to be nominated to apply. It is encouraged that students reach out about this in Term 1 or 2, so that discussion can occur around what will be needed for their application, provided a spot is available.

Renewal applications for students who have previously received a scholarship open in Term 1 and close at the end of Term 1. Students are contacted at this time if information is needed for their renewal application.

Required Documentation

Includes, but is not limited to: 

• Recent Academic Reports
• Supporting letter of nomination from a teacher 
• For students applying for arts or tech talents, supplying portfolio scores and examples, audition tapes, or other evidence of artistic/technical skill. 
• At least one area of identified talent (a subject you perform well in and may be passionate about)
• Evidence of financial hardship
• Camps, Sport, Excursion Fund (CSEF) or Equity Funding 
• Government Health Care Card
• Pensioner Concession Card  
• Youth Allowance  
• ABSTUDY  
• Family Tax Benefit Statement – showing combined family income. 
• Application process (online form, written application, interview)

Once it has been confirmed you are eligible and have an application spot, students are sent a questionnaire to complete with the following information: 

• Identified talent areas 
• A statement on what you might use the scholarship for and why it would benefit your studies.
• A statement on your future educational pathway/goal.
• A statement on any leadership or voluntary activities you have undertaken within the school or broader community over the previous 12 months.

More information on the scholarship can be found here: Western Chances

Selection Process

Who Assesses the Application

All submitted applications are reviewed by the Western Chances team in compliance with their audit assessment process to ensure they meet the required criteria. Outcomes for renewal scholarships are advised in mid-July and new scholarships in mid-November.   

1. Successful outcomes: If an application is successful, Western Chances will notify the nominator via email and send the student/s an SMS and email. 
2. Unsuccessful outcomes: If an application is unsuccessful, Western Chances will send the nominator an email outlining the reasons why the application has been unsuccessful to discuss with the student. Western Chances feel this information is best communicated by the person who nominates the student and knows them personally. The team is always prepared to discuss these outcomes should the nominator or student require further information or have any questions.  

Once the nominator (school) has been notified of the outcome of an application, students and their families will receive an email informing them of the outcome.

Accessing Your Scholarship

Once a student has been successful in their application, their scholarship award is paid out to the school. Students and their families are sent information on how to use and access the scholarship funding and the deadline for using their funding. 

Key Dates

Contact Us 

For further information regarding the Western Chances Scholarships, please contact:

Kimberly Kelley – Head of Wellbeing