Opening 16 November 2026 Closes 19 Feb 2027 Opening 16 November 2026 Closes 19 Feb 2027 Opening 16 November 2026 Closes 19 Feb 2027 Opening 16 November 2026 Closes 19 Feb 2027

What is the Little Friends Scholarship?

Friends with Dignity is committed to supporting and offering children impacted by Domestic and Family Violence opportunities that would ensure happy, healthy, and inclusive lives.

Through our Little Friends Scholarships, we help children further their education or participate in extracurricular activities they may otherwise miss out on due to the financial impact of Domestic and Family Violence. Scholarships are awarded nationwide on an as-needed basis, with all valid applications reviewed and considered.

Scholarships are available up to a maximum value of $500 per child.

Round 17

Applications Open: 16 Nov 2026

Applications Close: 19 Feb 2027

Outcome & Funding: Applicants will be notified of the outcome, and funding provided to successful applicants, as soon as possible during the application period.

If your application is successful, you may be asked to provide:

• Receipts dated no more than eight (8) weeks before your application submission date; and/or

• Valid invoices for expenses yet to be paid, such as school fees or book lists.

Friends with Dignity will advise when supporting documents need to be provided. Applications may close early once all available funding has been awarded.

“It helped create the stability in his life he needed to thrive.”

ROUND 17 100% FUNDING AVAILABLE ROUND 17 100% FUNDING AVAILABLE ROUND 17 100% FUNDING AVAILABLE ROUND 17 100% FUNDING AVAILABLE

Funds will be distributed to the successful Applicants in two ways:

1. Reimbursement of Funds

Friends with Dignity will reimburse funds upon presentation of valid receipts showing the purchase date, items purchased and provider. If more than one child is successful, receipts must clearly identify which items are for each child.Receipts for purchases or payments made up to eight (8) weeks before the application submission date will be accepted.

2. Payment of Invoice (preferred)

Friends with Dignity will pay funds direct to a provider (such as a school or stationery supplier) for the payment of an invoice which must include the child’s name and the provider details (including ABN). The invoice must also include BPAY, BPoint or BSB/Account details such that Friends with Dignity can make the payment to the provider.

Your Support, Their Opportunity

What Our Little Friends Say

Since receiving the Little Friends Scholarship, my daughter has been able to continue her dream of becoming a dancer and has really excelled this term with her dancing. She has her first competition coming up. Thank you so much Friends with Dignity for helping her dream come true.

My daughter and I are very grateful for the amount of money paid directly to the school for her school fees and charges for this school year. We can't thank you enough, Friends with Dignity, for making us feel that we are not forgotten, there is hope and that there is a light at the end of our dark tunnel. Thank you.

This client had very high costs associated with separation with the person using violence. This meant she was falling behind with school fees. The scholarship meant that the 13yo child could stay at the school he is so settled in. He has gone on to get his first after school job and is very proud of himself. It helped create the stability in his life he needed to thrive.

My son's school uniforms, which included an Instrumental Band Shirt, were provided by the Little Friends Scholarship. With the Band Shirt being provided, he was able to participate in an interschool Band competition playing trombone and they placed Silver! He wouldn't have been able to perform without the shirt and we are forever grateful for the scholarship.

The Little Friends Scholarship has helped pay for my child’s school fees and basketball fees, which has allowed me to contribute to new school/sports uniforms. The extra help from the Little Friends Scholarship has not only assisted with school attendance, but also his self-esteem as he did not have to feel left out from attending sports with his peers and was not ostracised for wearing old clothes. Little Friends Scholarship has definitely been a god send and we are so grateful for the financial assistance.

I would like to sincerely thank the Little Friends Scholarship program for helping to pay for my son's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fees. He was lacking confidence following some unfortunate events. He is now only 2 stripes away from progressing to a grey-white belt & is still only 5 years old. It is clear that this training has helped his overall demeaner and his ability to defend himself has given him more courage and confidence. We are very grateful for the support.

Scholarships are provided on an annual basis and are categorised into two groups:

Educational

The Educational Category may include, but is not limited to, school fees, laptops, ipads or other devices required for school, textbooks, stationery requirements, specialised equipment such as art supplies, or hospitality uniforms. It may include costs for excursions, camps, access to academic competitions, or school uniforms (including school shoes).

Extra-Curricular

The Extra-Curricular Category may include, but is not limited to, sporting equipment, sport uniforms, tuition costs, training or transport costs. It may include equipment for music, the arts or to cover the costs of representative teams. It may also be used for sign-up or registration fees for a sporting season, competition, debating, or some element of the arts.

The Application Process

Before you apply, you’ll need:

→ A child aged 5–18 who has been impacted by domestic and family violence and is in school or home-schooling.

→ A Sponsor (a relevant professional) who will endorse your application.

→ Supporting documents, such as a DVO, AVO or IVO.

How do I apply?

Applications are completed and submitted through our online application form.

Who can submit an application?

Either:

the child’s parent or authorised guardian, or
a social worker, GP, school principal, counsellor or other relevant professional authorised by the child’s parent or guardian.

Is my child eligible?

Applications are open to children impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV) who are:

aged between 5 and 18 years old at the time the application is submitted, and
in an educational environment, such as school or home-schooling.

What is a Sponsor?

A Sponsor is a professional who supports and endorses your application. Every application must be endorsed by a verifiable Sponsor before it can be considered.

Who can be a Sponsor?

A Sponsor may be a social worker, case worker, GP, school principal, counsellor or other relevant professional. Your Sponsor must use an email address linked to a verifiable organisation, such as the child’s school, GP clinic or a registered support organisation.

Can I be my own Sponsor?

No. Your Sponsor must be a different person from the one submitting the application.

What documents do I need to include?

Your application must include relevant supporting documents, such as a DVO, AVO, IVO or similar.

Do I need to provide invoices or receipts?

Not when you apply. We’ll only ask for invoices or receipts once your application has been evaluated and a decision has been made to award a scholarship.

What happens if my application is incomplete?

Applications that are incomplete or haven’t been endorsed by a Sponsor will not be considered. It’s your responsibility to make sure your Sponsor completes their endorsement, as Friends with Dignity is unable to follow up on incomplete applications.

Who reviews the applications?

All complete and valid applications are reviewed by an Evaluation Team made up of volunteer representatives from Friends with Dignity and some of our key financial sponsors.

What should I include in my application?

Your application is your opportunity to tell your child’s story. It’s the only way the Evaluation Team can understand your journey and how a Little Friends Scholarship would benefit your child.

Is my information kept confidential?

Yes. All information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential.

When will I hear back?

You’ll be notified of the outcome within 4–6 weeks of us receiving your endorsed application.

Will every eligible child receive a scholarship?

Unfortunately, not always. The number of applications we receive generally exceeds the funding available.

Little Friends Scholarship Community Support Hub

What is the Community Support Hub?

Friends with Dignity has created the Little Friends Scholarship Community Support Hub to give the wider community the opportunity to help us increase our impact with the Little Friends Scholarships. Every year we are inundated with applications that are all worthy of approving. However, in the past we have only had the financial support to help about 50% of the children in need of our assistance.

We are now offering you the opportunity to directly, and positively, impact the life a child affected by exposure to DFV by either:

covering the cost of the amount requested under an actual application, or
by donating dollars that will go directly into the Scholarship fund to be distributed across one or more applications.

Note: The ability to cover the cost requested under an actual Scholarship application will be aligned to the opening of the scholarship round (generally mid-November each year).

Join Us

We invite all Australians to join us in supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence as we work
towards building a nation free from domestic violence.