Financial support for regional high schools to host events where former students are invited to speak to current students about life after school.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $2,000
- Application opened: 1 August 2023
- Application closed: 12 April 2024, 3:00 pm
Program objective
The program will improve young people’s transition from school to work and further education by providing opportunities for them to hear from former students who have successfully navigated decisions related to study and training, finding work experience, and establishing a career.
The program is funded by the Department of Regional NSW in partnership with the Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) Program, NSW Department of Education.
This program is administered by Department of Education and Department of Regional NSW.
This program is funded by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
All government and registered non-government secondary schools in regional NSW are eligible to apply (excluding Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA).
Event type
Only one event per school will be eligible to receive funding.
Events must:
- be endorsed by the school principal
- involve past students of the school sharing their career experiences with current students
- address the program purpose and objectives
- be delivered between 8 August 2023 and 14 June 2024
- be student led and/or students contribute to the planning and organisation of the event
- include cost estimates to deliver activities that will be incurred between 8 August 2023 and 14 June 2024.
Example events:
- “Q and A” – a host or emcee asks alumni pre-prepared questions and then invites questions from students
- Speed networking – in small groups or individually, students have 5 minutes with each alumnus to ask questions
- Short presentations or videos from alumni followed by questions from students
- Small groups or individual students meet with alumni in areas of interest such as study pathways (university, vocational) and career groups (health, business, trades etc).
- Incorporating the alumni event with other career related activities (i.e.,such as year 9 or 11 subject selection, preparing for work experience).
| Albury City Council | Kyogle Council |
| Armidale Regional Council | Lachlan Shire Council |
| Ballina Shire Council | Lake Macquarie City Council |
| Balranald Shire Council | Leeton Shire Council |
| Bathurst Regional Council | Lismore City Council |
| Bega Valley Shire Council | Liverpool Plains Shire Council |
| Bellingen Shire Council | Lockhart Shire Council |
| Berrigan Shire Council | Maitland City Council |
| Bland Shire Council | Mid-Coast Council |
| Blayney Shire Council | Mid-Western Regional Council |
| Bogan Shire Council | Moree Plains Shire Council |
| Brewarrina Shire Council | Murray River Council |
| Bourke Shire Council | Murrumbidgee Council |
| Brewarrina Shire Council | Muswellbrook Shire Council |
| Broken Hill City Council | Nambucca Valley Council |
| Byron Shire Council | Narrabri Shire Council |
| Cabonne Council | Narrandera Shire Council |
| Carrathool Shire Council | Narromine Shire Council |
| Central Coast Council | Oberon Council |
| Central Darling Shire Council | Parkes Shire Council |
| Cessnock City Council | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council |
| Cessnock City Council | Port Stephens Council |
| City of Lithgow Council | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council |
| Clarence Valley Council | Richmond Valley Council |
| Cobar Shire Council | Shellharbour City Council |
| Coffs Harbour City Council | Shoalhaven City Council |
| Coolamon Shire Council | Singleton Council |
| Coonamble Shire Council | Snowy Monaro Regional Council |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council | Tamworth Regional Council |
| Cowra Shire Council | Temora Shire Council |
| Dubbo Regional Council | Tenterfield Shire Council |
| Dungog Shire Council | The Council of the Municipality of Kiama |
| Edward River Council | Tweed Shire Council |
| Eurobodalla Shire Council | Upper Hunter Shire Council |
| Federation Council | Upper Lachlan Shire Council |
| Forbes Shire Council | Uralla Shire Council |
| Gilgandra Shire Council | Wagga Wagga City Council |
| Glen Innes Severn Council | Walcha Council |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Council | Walgett Shire Council |
| Griffith City Council | Warren Shire Council |
| Gunnedah Shire Council | Warrumbungle Shire Council |
| Gwydir Shire Council | Weddin Shire Council |
| Hay Shire Council | Wentworth Shire Council |
| Inverell Shire Council | Wingecarribee Shire Council |
| Junee Shire Council | Yass Valley Council |
| Kempsey Shire Council |
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Applicants are required to submit an online application that includes:
- indication of endorsement by the school principal
- how the event will address the program purpose and objectives
- a proposed date of the event between 8 August 2023 and 14 June 2024
- event cost estimates based on quotes or detailed estimates, reasonable assumptions or previous experience with similar projects representing good value for money.
Please view the Program information (PDF 12.45MB) for all details and eligibility criteria.
Start the application
Applications for this grant closed on 12 April 2024 at 3.00pm AEST.
After the application is submitted
Approval process
- The NSW Department of Education staff will assess event proposals against the program eligibility requirements
- Applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis, unless otherwise advised
- Schools will be notified in writing of the outcome
- Applications received after the program funds have been expended will not be approved. There are limited funds available for this program and the Department of Education has overall decision-making of successful event applications.
Event delivery
Successful applicants will be responsible for delivering approved events by 14 June 2024. In the event of COVID-19 restrictions or natural disasters impacting event delivery schools will be encouraged to reschedule the dates of planned events providing events are delivered prior to 14 June 2024.
Tips for organising an event
- Email invitations to alumni well in advance
- Identify whether any alumni are NSW Training Awards winners (State and/or Regional)
- Ensure the event is booked in your school calendar and catering, rooms, IT etc. are organised
- Brief students on what to ask so they get the most out of the occasion.
- Consider breaking the event info focus groups for example:
- Students wishing to attend university could have a Q&A session with Alumni who successfully graduated with a degree
- Students wishing to follow a vocational pathway could have a Q&A session with Alumni who successful took this journey
- Students wishing to go straight into the workforce could have a Q&A session with Alumni who accomplished this.
- Brief the Alumni about the event and ask them to talk about what school was like for them, what they initially wanted to do when they left secondary school, what further education or work pathway they ended up taking, and whether HSC was important to them
- Prepare a budget for the event with breakdown of costs and consider whether Alumni should be supported with travel and accommodation if travelling from outside the region
- Ensure alumni are warmly greeted and staff are across who is a previous student
- Provide some delicious catering to make the event more enjoyable.
Reporting requirements
Successful applicants will be required to report on the event outcomes within 14 days after the event has occurred.