The CEWA Aboriginal Secondary Student Bursary Program for 2021 is now open for applications, with three new colleges joining the program. 

Kearnan College in Manjimup, Our Lady of Mercy College in Australind, and Salvado Catholic College in Byford join 35 other Catholic schools and colleges who offer financial support to Aboriginal students in secondary years through the program. 

The Bursaries program was introduced in 1997, and in 2019 assisted 372 Aboriginal students to access the education and pastoral support of CEWA schools and colleges. 

As an initiative supported by Catholic secondary schools, the program is one significant contributor to achieving the goals set out in CEWA’s Transforming Lives: Strategy 2025, particularly goals two and three: 

• Doubling the number of Aboriginal students in Catholic schools from 2500 to 5000 
• Increasing the number of Aboriginal Students graduating from Secondary school from 100 to 250 

Program Coodinator, Norman Brahim, said that while the program had enabled many Aboriginal students from regional areas in the north of WA to access a Catholic secondary education, he hoped the program would continue to reach students in other areas of the State. 

“It is great that we have three new Colleges joining the program this year – the bursaries are a terrific opportunity for students to learn and grow through a Catholic education, where they may not have been able to otherwise, 

“This is not just a program for students from regional communities, and we are looking forward to seeing more students from local schools in the south of the State benefiting from access to a Catholic secondary education into the future,” he said. 

Aboriginal families with children preparing to attend secondary school in 2021 are encouraged to consider applying for a bursary now. 

For more information please call one of the schools listed below, or Norman Brahim, Program Coordinator, on 6380 5200.

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