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

Bendigo Science and Technology Museum Inc

$47,500 in 2007 towards the ScienceLab@Discovery

Image: School students experiencing the excitement of being a scientist working in the Discovery Centre's laboratory.

A grant from The Ian Potter Foundation has helped the Discovery Science & Technology Centre in Bendigo create a hands-on classroom/laboratory with a particular emphasis on Years 3–8, where in-school laboratory access is least likely.

The Centre focuses on creating a fun and positive first-time laboratory experience and introduction to chemical, biological and physical sciences for school-age children. While it is documented that fewer city-based secondary school students are choosing to take prerequisites for university courses in maths, engineering and science, this problem is even more profound in rural and regional areas. The creation of a hands-on science learning environment and classroom within a regional setting will provide more young people with the opportunity to learn about and enjoy science.

It is hoped that in the long term this may translate into greater secondary and eventually university science participation.

This project was completed successfully in early 2008 and the lab is now ‘open for business’. The lab itself was developed within a converted railway building on the cusp of the Bendigo CBD. Transport links to the centre are excellent, with the central station located directly opposite. Transport access has ensured the success of the Centre’s laboratory holiday programs and will continue to provide excellent access to the community at large.

Learning Links is a charity that supports children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities and/or development delays. The Reading for Life program marries up schools and volunteers who have been professionally trained to deliver an effective and fun program one-on-one with an aim to improve children’s reading, self-esteem and confidence.

A small grant from the Foundation is helping to ensure the continuing success of the project in 2008. Learning Links is currently embarking on a research study with the University of Western Sydney that will allow them to investigate the long-term impact of the Reading for Life program.

Wunan Foundation, WA

$100,000 over two years (2008 - 2009) to the Connections Program.

The Wunan Foundation’s Connections Program aims to re-engage disconnected young people aged 13–19 with education and provide them with the ability to participate in further education, training and employment. It has been designed with a strong focus on young Aboriginal girls and boys who have no interest in Australian Rules football.

Funding from The Ian Potter Foundation is being used to provide a youth worker to assist young people overcome pastoral and personal barriers to meeting their educational and employment potential.

The Connections Program enjoys excellent partnership support from the Commonwealth Government, the local TAFE, Kununurra High School, Youth Pathways and Kimberley Training Group.

Travellers Aid Society of Victoria

$7,500 in 2008 to Pathways to Education.

One of the newer services offered by Travellers Aid is the Pathways to Education program which provides students with the most basic resource they require in order to fulfil their potential – access to education. For many young people living in difficult circumstances the cost of travel to and from school can be a significant burden.

With the grant from the Foundation, Travellers Aid is able to provide long-term travel passes to young people in need. The yearly and half yearly travel passes will ensure that these young people have access not only to their schools, but also to their social networks and communities.