I believe it is so important that every child and young person has the education, support and opportunity to reach their full potential.

Today the Telstra Foundation, in the presence of some of Australia’s most inspirational Indigenous leaders, announced its support of five Indigenous led organisations with $3.5 million in grants over three years.  The five organizations are:

• Catherine Freeman Foundation’s Palm Island Early Childhood Language and Literacy Project to promote early childhood literacy, improving children’s long-term educational prospects.
  
• QUT’s Stronger Smarter Institute’s program challenging education expectations of Indigenous schoolchildren, bringing the Telstra Foundation’s total commitment to this program to $2.4 million. The project is co-funded with the Sydney Myer Fund.
• The Long Walk Trust‘s Get the Conversation Started program, driving Indigenous education into schools.
• Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre‘s Leadership Plus to reconnect past students via an alumni network. The project is co-funded with the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund.
• La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council in partnership with La Perouse Youth Haven for continuing education and support of local Indigenous youth

And through these grants, the Telstra Foundation is doing what it can, to make sure that no child is without opportunities and role models.

I am proud as the leader of the Telstra Foundation to be supporting these Indigenous leaders who are role models for their communities, and programs that will make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of Indigenous youth.

See the Telstra Foundation media release on this important initiative:

• Telstra Foundation media release: $3.5 million for Indigenous youth programs