Education Scholarships

Scholarship Applications now open for 2026

The Geelong Community Foundation Scholarship Fund is a public fund developed for the charitable purpose of providing scholarships to promote and support education for secondary and tertiary students.

General Education Support Scholarships are offered to assist the education goals for students in Year 11 in 2025. The value of the General Education Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000.

Additional scholarships are available for students interested in a career pathway involving Agriculture, Horticulture or related pursuits. These scholarships are available for students who are aged between 15 and 25 years.

Applications for Scholarships opened on Monday 11 August and close on Sunday 28 September at 11:59pm. Completed scholarship application forms should be emailed to admin@geelongfoundation.org.

Following the review of scholarship applications applications will be shortlisted for interview. Interviews will occur in October 2025.

General Education Scholarships:

Dorothy Jean Scholarship – $1,000 or 2 x $500 scholarship/s
Backwell IXL Scholarships – Up to $2,000 scholarships
John Wade Memorial Scholarship – 4 x $2,000 scholarships
Alfred Swan Scholarship – 1 x $500 scholarship
Magee Family Scholarship- $2,000 or 2x $1000 scholarship/s

Agricultural and Horticultural Scholarships:

Rural Education and Retraining Scholarship – Up to $1,000 scholarship
Miles Family Scholarship – $1,000 or 2 x $500 scholarship/s
Tom & Irene Cleary Memorial Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship

All scholarships are designed to support students’ education success. Funding can be used to support:

payment of fees and purchase of text books and IT equipment
costs associated with camps and excursions linked to educational outcomes
costs associated with an apprenticeship, a VET course, a diploma/degree
costs to attend a workshop connected with the student’s career aspirations

This is not an exhaustive list and the Geelong Community Foundation is open to applications for support that are for other items that support the applicants education.

Scholarship Criteria

Scholarships are offered based on meeting the following criteria;

Applicants must be an Australian citizen living in the Geelong region which refers to the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast Shire, the Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire.
Students must demonstrate commitment to their education.
For General Scholarships students must be year in 11 in 2026 and require financial assistance to support their education.
For Agriculture or Horticulture Scholarships students must be aged be between 15 and 25 years, be studying in this pathway or have this pathway as a specific career goal and require financial assistance to support their education.

Scholarship Application Form

Click here to download the 2026 Scholarship Application Form.

If you have any questions, please contact the Geelong Community Foundation:

Amy Waters, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 0413 868 721 Email: amy@geelongfoundation.org