The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) is helping to close the gaps in Indigenous educational disadvantage through providing access to choice of education for numbers of Indigenous students, including those in remote areas.
The IYLP supports scholarships of up to three years duration for Indigenous students to attend approved secondary schools (day and boarding, government and non-government) and universities. In addition to helping Indigenous students achieve their educational aspirations, the IYLP supports the development of a pool of positive role models and future leaders, to inspire other Indigenous students and illustrate the successes that can be achieved through educational attainment.
In addition to ABSTUDY entitlements, education providers receive up to $15,000 per secondary student per annum, towards tuition fees; boarding and living costs (not already funded through other programs); core educational items including textbooks, uniforms/colour code, stationery, computer and internet costs; sporting and cultural participation, school excursions; mentoring, career counselling, tutoring; and an allowance for personal expenses. IYLP Tertiary students receive $6,000 per annum as a contribution towards costs of attending university.
The IYLP is an ongoing program with contracts in place for November 2005 – December 2009. New arrangements for 2010 – 2012 using the new IYLP partnership brokers will be announced shortly.
In November 2005 the Foundation for Young Australians was selected as the IYLP Administrator (2006 – 2009).
The program was expanded in the 2007 Budget which required an increase in places available for 2008 and 2009. To support the Foundation for Young Australians, the Government provided Yalari Ltd and the Cape York Institute with a limited number of IYLP scholarships to manage prior to returning to the market to get ongoing arrangements for 2010 in place.
In 2009, the Department went to market to locate suitable partnership brokers (to bring potential students, families, communities, schools and business together) to deliver IYLP over 2010 – 2012 (outcome TBA).
To date IYLP scholarship recipients have studied at more than 40 high performing schools and over 30 Australian universities. The program retains 90 per cent of those who commence a secondary scholarship and more than 80 per cent of those who commence a tertiary scholarship. Year 12 completions are growing.
By 2012, 910 students (630 secondary, 180 tertiary) are expected to be in receipt of an IYLP scholarship.
New IYLP Partnership Brokers coming soon.