Through humility, kindness, and strength, we have celebrated 20 years of Yalari in 2025. And now let’s see what the next 20 years brings for us
A message from our Founder
For thousands of years, our Old People were so connected with the Country and the seasons that their lives would circle around each year with a knowing and a confidence that all was as it should be. Through fires, floods, rejuvenation and plenty, time moved on with Knowledge and purpose.
Today, all over Australia there is joy, anxiousness, excitement and pride as 71 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families have successfully completed their Yalari interview. Many of them have also had their school interviews and been offered their Yalari scholarship for 2026.
That’s what the arrival of springtime means at Yalari. Growth, renewed activity, warmth and colour; for the Country, our people, and our new scholarship recipients.
The winter season for Yalari has gracefully closed with the completion of our Outback Camps in Central Australia;
as well as winter sport finals, Term 3 exams, our Gala dinners in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane, and our graduation ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra for our graduating Year 12 students.
Thank you to all who are part of Yalari this season; our generous sponsors and donors, our committed staff and volunteers, our dedicated teaching and boarding school staff, our inspiring and courageous students and their families, our growing and connected alumni, and the wider community of Australia who support Yalari and all that we do... together.
Through humility, kindness, and strength, we have celebrated 20 years of Yalari in 2025. And now let’s see what the next 20 years brings for us, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Australia as a united nation.
letter
Outback Camp: Connecting on Country
By Sarah Jenkins Yalari Outback Camp attendee July 2025
ISS Facility Services on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country (Melbourne)
People want to connect. That was the overriding sense ISS team members brought home after joining the Yalari Outback Camp last week.
For seven days, the group explored from Alice Springs to Ormiston Gorge and Kings Canyon to Uluru. They camped on Country, pitched in with camp duties, joined fireside yarning circles, learnt from Traditional Owners, and hiked through storied, silent landscapes. Often with no Wi-Fi, no distractions – just people. Yalari alumni, staff, and ISS and RACV team members.
ISS is a corporate sponsor of Yalari – a not-for-profit that for 20 years has been creating high school scholarship opportunities for First Nations students from regional and remote communities. A Yalari scholarship opens more than a door for one student; it creates ripples of opportunity for families, communities and generations.
This camp was an invitation to be guests on Country.
We came away with a deeper appreciation of the strength, wisdom and excellence of Australia’s First Nations peoples, and of Yalari’s resolute vision to help First Nations students shape their futures.
Every place we visited was layered with stories – creation stories, cultural histories, and family legacies carried forward for more than 65,000 years. Some were sacred, some were shared.
All of them reminded us that stories connect us across generations, cultures and difference.
We also had the privilege of learning directly from Traditional Owners, who were generous with their knowledge, food and culture. Their openness showed us that listening and respect are the starting points for any genuine connection.
Waverley, Yalari’s Founder, speaks of ‘stickability’ the grit and perseverance he looks for in scholarship students, a quality that turns opportunity into achievement. We learned that we must embrace this same ‘stickability’ to continue supporting the journey of reconciliation in our everyday lives, wherever we are – in cities or on Country. In this way, we can stay on course for the long haul, working together to create a more equitable and hopeful future for all Australians.
Yalari Ready: Building the confidence and capability to succeed newsletter
In 2024, Yalari took a bold step forward with the launch of a new pilot initiative, Yalari Ready.
This program was created for scholarship applicants who show incredible promise - students who embody the values, resilience, and potential to thrive on a Yalari scholarship, yet may need a little extra academic support to truly flourish in their early secondary school journey.
Yalari Ready is an intensive, year-long program focused on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Through tailored support and a dedicated learning environment and teacher, the program helps students build the academic confidence and capability they need to succeed.
We’re proud to share that all seven students who transitioned from Yalari Ready into Year 7 in 2025, are flourishing in their development - each achieving a grade of C or higher across their subjects.
One incredible story is that of Annie (pictured above) from Bamaga, who is currently completing Year 7 at Clayfield College. Annie has excelled in her core subjects, earning two As and two Bs across English, Math, Science, and Humanities. This success is a testament to the dedication of our partner schools, and most importantly, the Yalari Ready
teachers, whose commitment and care have helped these students build strong academic foundations.
Currently, ten students are about to complete their final year of Yalari Ready at Scots PGC. All students have been offered places at three of our partner schools next year enrolling in Year 7.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome a new intake of another ten students into Yalari Ready at Scots PGC in 2026. Building the foundations of literacy and numeracy through tailored support and encouragement, will see these students write stories, tackle maths problems, explore new subjects and ultimately discover confidence and a love of learning.
A shared vision: walking together for change
At the heart of every meaningful partnership lies a shared set of values – and the connection between The Balnaves Foundation and Yalari is an example of what’s possible when values align and visions unite.
The Balnaves Foundation, like Yalari, have been championing education for nearly two decades. Initially supporting tertiary scholarships for First Nations students, they recognised a need to begin their support earlier for students in high school.
They undertook research and identified Yalari as a leader in the space of education for First Nations young people. What stood out wasn’t just the outcomes, but the heart behind the work: an Indigenous founded and led organisation, grounded in lived experience and driven by a deep commitment to empowering young people through education.
Yalari wraps each student in a network of care: a dedicated local Student Support Officer walking alongside them day to day and annual camps that unite each year’s cohort in friendship.
We love the support structures Yalari has in place for the students and the camps
CEO Hamish Balnaves
The Balnaves Foundation is committed to providing access to quality education, a key that opens the doors for children to learn, grow and dream big.
That commitment became even more personal when Hamish attended a Yalari Orientation Camp with his son, William. There, he witnessed firsthand the courage and growth of students stepping into Year 7, and the confidence of those returning for Year 8.
“This is the third year we have been supporting Yalari. During this time it has been great to see how much the students we support have grown”, says Hamish.
Looking to the future, the Foundation holds a simple but powerful hope:
“Ultimately, we would be delighted if every child had access to high-quality, sustained education where they live. Until then, we hope Yalari continues to offer this incredible opportunity for a robust and well-rounded education to all First Nations young people who seek it.”
Brisbane gala dinner: Celebrating 20 years
Held on Friday 12 September at the Brisbane Convention Centre, the Brisbane Gala Dinner saw 900 people celebrating Yalari’s 20th anniversary. This was our largest dinner to date and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces return, alongside new friends.
Thank you once again for the generous support of those who attended the event. We look forward to welcoming you back next year on Friday 11 September 2026. Please save the date!
Here’s a selection of photos of the many families that joined the celebration of supporting their children on their educational journey.
