Our Programs
Little Friends
Scholarships
What is the Little Friends Scholarship?
One of the key goals of Friends with Dignity is to support children in Domestic and Family Violence affected environments to go on and live happy, healthy and inclusive lives. These scholarships are specifically for children financially impacted by Domestic and Family Violence.
Our Little Friends Scholarship has been established to ensure all children have the ability to either further their education and/or be able to participate in extra-curricular activities that they may not be able to pursue due to the financial impact of Domestic and Family Violence.
Scholarships are awarded nationwide on an “as needs basis” with all valid applications being reviewed and considered.
Scholarships are up to a maximum value of $500 per child.
Categories
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
Applications must be completed and submitted using the online application form by either:
1. The Parent or authorised Guardian of the child; or
2. A Social Worker, GP, School Principal or Counsellor on behalf of the child with the consent of the parent or legal guardian.
Children must be between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age at the date of application.
All applications must be supported/endorsed by a ‘Sponsor’ who verifies the application. A Sponsor may be a Social Worker, Case Worker, General Practitioner, School Principal, Counsellor or other relevant professional.
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- Applications MUST include all relevant documents. Applications may include invoices not yet paid (such as for upcoming school fees or a laptop) or receipts for costs already paid (such as for school uniforms or stationery). Any receipts must be no more than eight (8) weeks old from the application submission date.
- Applications which are incomplete or are not verified by a Sponsor will be excluded from consideration.
- It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the Sponsor completes their endorsement to validate the application. Friends with Dignity will not follow up on incomplete applications.
- All complete/valid applications will be reviewed by a Committee comprising of representatives from Friends with Dignity and other industry professionals.
- Unfortunately the number of applications received generally exceeds the available funding. Friends with Dignity reserves the right to close the application process early once all available funding has been awarded.
- Please note: This is your opportunity to tell your child’s story. It is only through your application that the Committee can understand your journey and how being awarded a Little Friends Scholarship would benefit your child. You are encouraged to attach any relevant supporting documentation to your application. All information received will be treated strictly as confidential.
- All Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.
Round 15
Key Dates
Applications Open: 18 November 2024
Applications Close: 14 February 2025
Applicants notified of outcome: asap during the application process
Funding Disbursement: asap during the application process
Applications are to include invoices (such as for school fees or a book list yet to be paid for) and/or receipts that are no older than eight (8) weeks prior to the Application submission date (such as for school uniforms or a laptop).
If Applicants are awaiting invoices to be provided by the provider/school, please note this in your application. If your Application is successful, Friends with Dignity will confirm the latest date that those invoices can be provided.
Please note: Friends with Dignity reserves the right to close the application process early once all available funding has been awarded.
Remaining funding available for the Little Friends Scholarship Program
Funds will be distributed to the successful applicants in two ways:
Reimbursement of funds
Friends with Dignity will reimburse funds upon presentation of valid receipts. Receipts must include the date of purchase, details of items purchased, and name of provider (such as a school or stationery supplier).
Friends with Dignity will accept receipts for purchases/payments that were made up to eight (8) weeks prior to the Application submission date.
Please attach your receipts to your application.
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 or BSB/Account number details (or similar) such that Friends with Dignity can make the payment to the provider.
Please attach your invoices to your application or provide details of when the invoice will be available.
Little Friends Scholarship Community Fund
What is the Community Fund?
Friends with Dignity have created the Little Friends Scholarship Community Fund to give the wider community the opportunity to increase our impact with the Little Friends Scholarships.
In each round we are inundated with applications all worthy of approving. However in the past we have only had the financial support to help a few of the children in need of our assistance.
The funds you donate will go directly into the Scholarship fund to increase the amount of children we can help in each round.
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towards building a nation free from domestic violence.