Ravenswood School for Girls is proud to announce a new partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF), to provide boarding scholarships for rural and regional Indigenous students to attend Ravenswood.
Ravenswood’s partnership as an AIEF Partner School has commenced in 2025, with proud Gomeroi, Mandandanji and Dhunghutti Year 7 student Mia Tolmie.
The Tolmie family, who live in a regional town in north-eastern New South Wales, said, ‘The AIEF partnership and the opportunities available at Ravenswood are a pathway to success for Indigenous families like ours. Mia has always loved school and we have always placed a high value on education as a family. This opportunity to expose our daughter to world class quality education within the supportive environment of Ravenswood will allow our family to flourish further than ever before. There is no way this would have been possible without this partnership and we are very grateful to all involved in its conception and implementation.’
Established in 2008, the AIEF removes many of the financial barriers preventing Indigenous students and their families from enrolling in educational institutions such as Ravenswood. The life-changing program has supported more than 1500 young Indigenous people from more than 400 communities across Australia to gain a previously unattainable education, helping fuel their dreams, transform their lives and creating a ripple effect of positive change that is impacting multiple generations.
AIEF Executive Director Andrew Penfold AM says, ‘AIEF is proud to be partnering with Ravenswood to further expand the delivery of our scholarship and pathways programs. Together we will be strengthening educational opportunities for young Indigenous women, empowering them to pursue their dreams, realise their potential and ultimately change our nation.’
The AIEF Program is a proven pathway for Indigenous students to transition from secondary education to life after school and beyond. In 2023, 93% of AIEF graduates were engaged in tertiary studies, employment or other productive pursuits. Ravenswood School for Girls looks forward to nurturing this new partnership and fostering a cohort of AIEF scholarship recipients.
Principal Dr Anne Johnstone says, ‘At Ravenswood, we are committed to nurturing the potential of every student, including those who would otherwise not have the chance to pursue such a transformational educational opportunity. This scholarship is an important step toward ensuring First Nations students from regional areas have the chance to reach their fullest potential at Ravenswood. Moreover, by establishing pathways for Indigenous students to flourish, we also embrace this wonderful opportunity to further enhance and enrich the cultural fabric of our vibrant and diverse School community.’
For more information about scholarships and student enrolment, please contact enrol@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au
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