Charity Western Chances will be able to provide more young people with scholarships, thanks to a grant from Melbourne Airport.
The airport signed a five-year partnership Western Chances, providing it with $875,000 to provide scholarships, employment opportunity programs and ongoing support to hundreds of young people in Melbourne’s west.
Melbourne Airport also signed a five-year partnership with with Banksia Gardens, providing more than $600,000 to support early childhood education and training.
Western Chances founding chair Terry Bracks welcomed the extension of the partnership with Melbourne Airport.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to extend our partnership with Melbourne Airport for another five years, building on a remarkable 15-year history of breaking down barriers and supporting young people in Melbourne’s west,” she said.
“Their continued support will fund 650 scholarships, along with our Dream Big Awards, providing life-changing opportunities for our talented young people to thrive and achieve their potential.”
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said the airport is proud to support local charities that make a tangible difference to the lives of so many families.
“The work Western Chances and Banksia Gardens do for communities in the north and west of the city is invaluable, and we are proud to play a small role in supporting that,” she said.
“We have two Western Chances scholarship recipients working at the airport whose careers wouldn’t have been possible without the support given to them by the charity.
“Melbourne Airport is the largest employer in the local area, and we recognise the importance of establishing pathways and providing education to give people the skills they need to kick start their careers.”
Melbourne Airport also announced the recipients of the 2024 Community Grants program, which provides $10,000 each to community centres and neighbourhood houses within 20 kilometres of the airport.
Ten neighbourhood houses received grants this year. Among the recipients was Hillside Community Centre and Neighbourhood House which received funding for its industry pathways project, Duke Street Community House which will use the funding for its empowering migrant women through volunteering program, West Footscray Neighbourhood House which will use the funding for its Wee Folk Weekend Playgroup and Williamstown Community and Education Centre which will use the funding for its Spotswood rejuvenation project.
