Program Area

Education

The Foundation's grants in the area of education are strongly influenced by its other interests, particularly the environment, the arts and community wellbeing.

Education enables young people to learn how to become valued and creative members of the community. The Ian Potter Foundation has been at the forefront of recognising the impact of good quality early years education on an individual's long term life prospects. The Foundation is also keen to support innovative projects which address the rural/urban divide.

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EDUCATION FUNDING OBJECTIVES

To support educational policy research of outstanding quality.
To support educational programs of benefit to the general community.

Grants submitted within this area may also be considered for an Alec Prentice Sewell Gift.

The Foundation's Travel Grants program also has a strong educational element with grants made to universities, research institutes and the TAFE sector and in particular to support early career researchers and academics.

Current funding priorities include:

early childhood education,
volunteerism in schools and communities,
school-family linkages,
science education, and
education in rural and regional areas.

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EXCLUSIONS

Education grants are limited by the fact that Government primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, preschools and special education providers do not have Deductible Gift Recipient status for educational programs; and therefore are not eligible to apply for funding. The Foundation does not fund School Building Funds.

Case Study

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

$60,000 over two years, 2006 - 2007

To assist Nunawading Primary School in the establishment of a Kitchen Garden Program

Above: Nunawading students enjoy the spoils of their work in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.

With funding from The Ian Potter Foundation in 2006, The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation launched its second Victorian full kitchen and garden program at Nunawading Primary School in early 2007. The program allows children from Grades 3 through to 6 to participate each week in garden classes and kitchen classes taught by specialists, where they learn to grow, harvest, prepare and share delicious food – and have fun as they do it.

The project also provides opportunities for greater engagement between the school and its community. At Nunawading, parents, friends and volunteers helped raise funds, solicited donations of equipment and assisted with the construction of the kitchen and the garden.

Volunteers are also crucial assistants in kitchen and garden classes, and ensure that the garden is well tended and watered during weekends and school holidays.

By introducing children to different food options in a relaxed cooperative atmosphere, the Program goes some way towards addressing the major health issues facing children today, in particular obesity, dental diseases and emotional and behavioural problems.

There is a shortage of trained science teachers in Australia, which is more prevalent in our regional and rural centres than urban areas. With the assistance of a grant from the Foundation, Swinburne University is delivering a travelling educational science program to rural communities across Victoria. The project has been designed to ensure it has relevance to the lives of people in rural communities. It looks specifically to improve community understanding of the importance of science as a career pathway, and to motivate young people to engage with and become involved in science and technology. Using resources already developed for use in practical classes, the travelling science resource kit will use interactive presentations that have a strong scientific focus, but are also fun and easy to engage with.

The Asialink Centre
University of Melbourne, VIC
$100,000
The Asialink Leadership Program

Asialink is Australia’s largest centre for the promotion of public understanding of countries in Asia and Australia’s role in the region. Asialink’s Leadership Program aims to produce a regional network of emerging leaders respectful of their own culture and traditions and those of others, while also encouraging ongoing sustainable development and understanding within the region.

The grant from The Ian Potter Foundation has allowed 15 participants from the not-for-profit sector to take part and engage in the program. Non-profit-leaders chosen to take part represented the Environment, Medical, Development and International Health sectors. The grant also provided an opportunity for two leaders of Muslim communities in Australia to participate.

Music Council of Australia, VIC
$25,850
Guitars for Schools

The Guitars for Schools project began in 2004 and is Australia’s only scheme to provide musical instruments to students of schools in low socio-economic areas so they can continue their music practice outside of school hours on an instrument that is their own for life.

The grant from The Ian Potter Foundation has allowed for the expansion of the program in Victoria and the development of a pilot program for South Australia. The grant will also help fund research into the importance of providing greater musical engagement opportunities for children and the contribution of learning an instrument to the development of children’s confidence, self esteem and educational outcomes.