By Matthew Sims
Brimbank and northwest students aiming to access education and training now have an extra chance, with Victoria University [VU] and scholarship and educational support provider Western Chances signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, October 11.
Since it was launched about 20 years ago, Western Chances has allowed students to access about $8 million in scholarships, assisting more than 3500 young people across Melbourne’s west to help them overcome barriers to securing education.
Since 2006, VU has offered up to 35 scholarships of $1000 per year, with the scholarship helping students pay for laptops, home internet or public transport.
First-year VU paramedic student and Werribee resident Alannah Nix started receiving the scholarship eight years ago when she was a student at Hoppers Crossing Secondary School.
Alannah’s sisters Gemma and Caitlin also received scholarships with Western Chances, which supported Gemma towards her goal of becoming a nurse, with her currently working at Footscray Hospital, while Caitlin is a teacher in Queensland.
Alannah said the program has helped support her and her sisters not just financially, but also personally and professionally.
“Western Chances helped each of us get to where we are now,” she said.
“They don’t just provide money, they gave us connections to a great community, and to personal and professional experiences we’d have never had.”
The Memorandum of Understanding would allow VU and Western Chances to expand the scholarships on offer for people in VU TAFE courses, develop programs to link Western Chances alumni with career and industry networks and expand opportunities for scholarship recipients to engage in internships and gain work experience.
VU vice-chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the commitment would allow the partnership between VU and Western Chances to develop further into the future.
“Our partnership has grown enormously over the past 16 years and we are so excited to celebrate this milestone by taking it even further,” he said.
Details: www.westernchances.org.au
