New fund launched to support Indigenous students

The University of Adelaide will create further educational opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, following the launch of a new Indigenous Support Fund.

The Indigenous Support Fund is an endowed fund that will create two streams of support for Indigenous students from 2022: the Yaitya Tipanthi Scholarship and the Yaitya Tipanthi Bursary. “Yaitya Tipanthi” is Kaurna language for “Indigenous support”.

The Yaitya Tipanthi Scholarships – valued at $5000 for each year of study – will be awarded to students who have successfully completed the University’s pre-existing Karnkanthi Indigenous Education Program for senior high school students, supporting them to continue to university.

The Yaitya Tipanthi Bursaries – valued at up to $2000 – will provide financial assistance to support students’ additional study costs and resources, such as equipment, field trips and professional placements. It will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have the tools they need to succeed in their chosen study program.

The Indigenous Support Fund has been created at the request of the University of Adelaide’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Høj AC, with his personal financial support.

To establish the fund, Professor Høj has made a personal donation of $50,000 to the fund and he will continue to donate this amount annually each year that he is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide. This continues his mission of personal philanthropy and supporting educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In line with its longstanding commitment to enhancing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and promoting positive outcomes for them, the University has agreed to augment Professor Høj’s contributions by contributing an additional $85,000 per annum while he is Vice-Chancellor.

The new Indigenous Support Fund will directly support the University’s work under its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), to promote and advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and success in higher education and research.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to give back and to assist others in a tangible way as they set out to create a better future for themselves, their loved ones, and the wider society.”Professor Peter Høj AC, Vice-Chancellor and President

“With philanthropy, I decided to lead by example as a Vice-Chancellor at my two previous institutions; the Indigenous Support Fund at the University of Adelaide is another example of this,” Professor Høj says.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to give back and to assist others in a tangible way as they set out to create a better future for themselves, their loved ones, and the wider society.

“There are many young people in our society for whom disadvantage may be the only barrier to them fulfilling their potential for academic and personal success. For these young people, philanthropy can have a mighty impact in creating equality of opportunity and a level playing field. Philanthropy is not the solution but it can be part of it.

“In our giving, my partner Mandy and I have chosen to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in receiving better access to tertiary study and to facilitate improved higher education outcomes.

“Philanthropy will increasingly become an important part of the University of Adelaide’s future, building on the years of generosity shown by many in our community. I am very grateful for any gift that creates positive futures for our students and our academic activities now and in the generations to come,” Professor Høj says.

Anyone can contribute to the University of Adelaide’s Indigenous Support Fund