Australian Indigenous Education Foundation facts for kids
| Founded | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Andrew Penfold |
The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) is a special group that helps people. It's a non-profit organisation, which means it doesn't try to make money for itself. Instead, AIEF gives money for scholarships. These scholarships help Indigenous students finish high school (Year 12) or go to college. AIEF also helps these students find jobs after they finish their studies.
This group has strong support from important business, media, and community leaders in Australia. AIEF started small in 2008 with just one student. Now, it helps over 1,500 young Indigenous people. These students come from more than 400 communities all across Australia.
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How AIEF Started
AIEF began in 2008. It grew from an earlier idea called the St Joseph’s College Indigenous Fund. This fund was started in 2004 by Andrew Penfold AM, who is now a leader at AIEF. The fund helped Indigenous students who needed financial help to attend St Joseph’s College.
With help from his wife, Michelle, Andrew expanded the program. They started working with schools all over Australia. This led to the creation of AIEF. The very first AIEF Scholarship was given out in 2008.
In 2008, the Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, agreed to give AIEF $20 million. There was a condition: AIEF had to raise another $20 million from private businesses and people by 2028. This would create a total of $40 million, shared equally between the government and private supporters. AIEF used this government promise to get more support. They actually reached their private funding goal even earlier, in 2012!
What AIEF Programs Do
AIEF has two main programs that help students succeed.
AIEF Scholarship Program
The AIEF Scholarship Program gives scholarships to Indigenous students. These scholarships help them go to top schools and universities in Australia.
Students who get these scholarships receive a good education. They learn in places that respect their culture. This helps them build skills and confidence. They can then reach their full potential and use all the chances they get.
AIEF Pathways Program
The AIEF Pathways Program works with the Scholarship Program. It helps students get ready for their careers. This program makes sure that AIEF Scholarship Students move smoothly from school or university into more studies or a job.
The AIEF Compendium: A Helpful Guide
In May 2015, the Prime Minister at the time, Tony Abbott, launched a special resource from AIEF. It was called the AIEF Compendium.
The AIEF Compendium of best practice for achieving successful outcomes with Indigenous students in Australian boarding schools is a guide for Australian boarding schools. AIEF talked to over 160 educators from more than 50 top Australian schools. They asked about what helps Indigenous students succeed. They wanted to know what helps students finish Year 12 and find jobs.
Creating the Compendium took two years. HSBC’s Future First program helped AIEF by providing funding for this project.
AIEF also made an online version called ‘AIEF Compendium Online’. Teachers and other education experts can sign up to see and use the information in the Compendium there.
How AIEF Is Organized
The Australian Government supports the AIEF Scholarship Program and the AIEF Pathways Program. Many other people and groups also help. These include individuals, charities, and companies from the private sector.
Important Patrons
AIEF has special supporters called Patrons. These are highly respected leaders in Australia.
- Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, who is the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (she is the main Patron)
- Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO
- Mr David Gonski AC
Board of Directors
AIEF is a non-profit company. It is guided by its Board of Directors. They also have an Investment Committee that helps manage money.
- Carlie Bender
- Rob Coombe
- Greg Cooper
- Emily Hill
- Helen McCabe
- Andrew Penfold AM (Executive Director)
- Michelle Penfold
AIEF Ambassadors
Many people support AIEF as Ambassadors. These are people who have done very well in their own jobs. They speak up for AIEF and help share its message.
Partners Who Help AIEF
AIEF works with many businesses and charities. These partners help by giving money for scholarships. They also create chances for students and past students (alumni). These chances include training, learning about different jobs, and finding employment.
- Allens
- BHP
- Commonwealth Bank
- Crown Resorts Foundation
- Future Generation
- HSBC Bank Australia
- KPMG
- Qantas Airways
- SAP Australia
- Sky News Australia
- The Australian
- The Bill & Patricia Ritchie Foundation
- Minderoo Foundation
- Dick and Pip Smith Foundation
- The Ireland Funds Australia
