THE PINNACLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND
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Mission Statement
Founded in 2007, The Pinnacle Foundation is Australia's LGBTQIA+ education charity with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. Our flagship program provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ Australians to realise their full potential. Our vision is for a more diverse and inclusive society with visible LGBTQIA+ role models. The Foundation awards multi-year scholarships nationally to students aged between 18 and 26 for fulltime study at public higher education institutions in Australia to achieve educational or vocational qualifications in any profession, trade, or the arts. Scholarship applications open 1 July and close 31 August with scholarships awarded in December. Every Pinnacle scholar is carefully matched with a mentor who will typically share the same academic and professional interests, gender identity and sexual orientation. The mentor acts as a role model. They will have walked the scholar’s path – and provide the encouragement, counsel and inspiration to support the scholar’s rounded development and successful completion of their studies. Scholars and alumni also receive opportunities through the wider Pinnacle “family”. Additionally, we ally with The University of Sydney Business School to deliver the LGBTQIA+ Executive Fellowship. The Fellowship, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, develops senior and executive leadership capabilities within the LGBTQIA+ community.
About This Cause
There is a common misconception that since Australia achieved marriage equality, life for young LGBTQIA+ people became much easier. For some that may be true, but not for many. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia research finds that young adults in the LGBTQIA+ community are still between five and 11 times more likely to attempt self-harm or experience psychological distress directly related to experiences of stigma, prejudice, discrimination, bullying or abuse. We also understand from research conducted by the Mitchell Institute in 2017 that low self-esteem, family disruption and severe peer victimisation are critical factors that make it difficult for young people to complete their education – at great personal cost, and at great cost to our wider society. It is here where The Pinnacle Foundation makes a difference. Many of the young LGBTQIA+ people that The Pinnacle Foundation supports have faced family, faith and community rejection because of who they are and how they identify. Many have experienced bullying, discrimination, and abuse. Education can significantly change life for the better, increasing our options, enriching and empowering us. Education helps to expand our life choices.