Hello Everyone and Thank You for Coming

Hello everyone and thank you for coming.

Before I start, I would like to pay my respects to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and their elders past and present, as the traditional and original owners of the land on which we now stand, lutruwita, Tasmania.

The Pinnacle Foundation assists lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer youth who are disadvantaged. We do this by providing scholarships under the guidance of mentors and donors.

With so much determination and unrealised potential out there we’re about providing financial and mentoring support to LGBTI youth who may not be able to achieve their educational or career goals on their own. Pinnacle aims to give young LGBTIQs the chance to achieve their full potential.

No matter what the interest or vocation, we might be able to help. Whether our potential scholars want to finish year 12, are ready to start TAFE, or go to university, we can help. Irrespective if you want to be a teacher, nurse, musician, architect, chef, lawyer or engineer? Whatever you aspire to, we may be able to offer the financial support and resources to help young people get there.

We know that some young LGBTI youth can face a tough time coming out to their families, friends and schools, with some finding themselves without the money and support needed to keep up their studies. That’s where we come in. We know that with hope for the future it’s possible to leave disappointment and rejection problems behind and move on to fulfilling and productive lives. We want to help encourage young LGBTI young people to make something of their lives so that they can act as future role models for others.

So, The Pinnacle Foundation was set up with the aim of having enough money to fund many scholarships every year all over Australia.

Scholarship

Our Scholarships will be provided to people who desire to undertake full-time education at a public or private secondary school for year 12, or public institution of higher education in Australia for the purpose of gaining an educational or vocational qualification in any profession, trade or the arts.

Scholarships will be granted for a period of one year. However, an existing

Scholarship holder is entitled to reapply for a Scholarship should they be eligible in the following year. If during the course of full time studies exceptional circumstances arise which require a Scholar to reduce study load the Foundation will favourably consider such a request from the Scholar.

The Scholarship funds are accessed by way of a debit card loaded with the scholarship amount. The administrators of the Foundation are able to monitor expenditure to ensure it is primarily in accordance with the proposed expenditure set out in the application. The Foundation has two scholarships available for the 2015 Academic Year:

The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarship of $3,000 for the first year of tertiary studies and $2,000 for subsequent years. For Year 12 students the scholarship amount is $2,000; and our Sponsored and Named Scholarships with $5,000 for first year of tertiary studies and $3000 for subsequent years.

The intention of the scholarship is to mainly cover expenses associated with their studies, for example, the cost of tuition fees or dues to an approved educational institution, laptop and printer, textbooks, printing and stationary, uniforms, professional memberships or student union fees, professional tools of trade and public transport concession passes are all acceptable expenses. Named

Scholarships also allow for expenses necessary for the well-being of the applicant.

Unfortunately those who need grants and scholarships the most can’t always access the information, nor do they have the resources to apply. Knowing where to access funding opportunities, making inquiries and completing applications can be a daunting task for some LGBTI students. We recognise that the students most likely to have difficulty will probably come from ethnic and Aboriginal backgrounds, are disabled or live in rural areas.

In the 2014 Academic Year, our first year in Tasmania, we received one application and now have our inaugural Pinnacle Foundation Scholar. Caleb Nichols-Mansell, a young Aboriginal man from the North West coast, is a very passionate and dedicated young man who will do great things. Here’s what he had to say about his scholarship:

“Being awarded the Pinnacle Foundation Scholarship for 2014 has given me the opportunity to further pursue my career goals through study. The Pinnacle

Foundation has lifted the burden of financial pressure off my back and allowed me to focus wholly on my education, ensuring I have the support from my mentor and the Pinnacle ‘family’ along the way to achieve the best possible academic results.”

We want to grow that family. That’s where you come in. The Pinnacle

Foundation needs your help to identify and reach those young people who may need that hand-up, who may need that extra assistance to realise their potential.

We want to find those young people and truly light the spark within.

Thank you.