The Public Education Foundation’s Friends of Zainab Secondary Scholarships help support refugee students through the critical years of their High School Certificate.
The scholarship was established in 2002 by Dorothy Hoddinott AO, the Principal of Holroyd High School in Sydney’s South-West. In its first year the scholarship enabled a young refugee, Zainab Kaabi, to complete her schooling and enter university.
This scholarship is for:
Senior Secondary Scholarship, Year 10 for students currently enrolled in Year 10 in 2025 - an annual bursary of $1,000 will be provided for each of Years 11 and 12.
The scholarship is to cover educational expenses such as:
- Laptop, iPad or another similar device
- Subject or study related software
- Uniforms and school shoes (including school sports clothing)
- Textbooks
- Stationery and general office items and equipment
- Printer
- Incidental fees (e.g. Textbook hiring, costs associated with a specialised subject etc.)
- Internet connection for study at home
- School excursions and school camps
- Costs associated with work experience linked to VET subjects
- Furniture for study such as desk, chair, lamp etc
- Face to face or online tutoring
If a student leaves public school before the end of Year 12, the scholarship will lapse. Please note - if a student’s attendance rate falls below an acceptable level at any time during the duration of the scholarship, the scholarship may be withdrawn. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund.
Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the scholarship terms and conditions available on our website.
Basic Eligibility
- A refugee
- Currently in Year 10 (2025)
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
Note: Students who have applied for protection but do not currently have either permanent residence or Australian Citizenship will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Selection Criteria
- Experiencing personal or socioeconomic disadvantage
- Have a positive attitude towards schooling
- Have made academic progress whilst at school and demonstrated motivation to achieve academically and professionally with an intention to carry on to tertiary education
- Demonstrate they participate in school life
- Demonstrate they contribute to the community and/or in extracurricular activities
Selection Process
A selection panel comprising Public Education Foundation representatives and independent experts will assess applications against the selection criteria. Recommendations will be approved by the Foundation’s Board. Successful applicants will be notified in December 2025.
How to Apply
Apply via our online portal at PEF-Apply. All sections, including the Principal’s Supporting Statement, must be completed before submission.
Application Requirements
- Personal and family details
- Proof of residence status (VEVO check, visa, or citizenship certificate – IMMICARDs are not accepted)
- Parent/guardian contact information
- School details and a point of contact at the school
- Background information including language spoken at home, caregiver, education level of household, etc.
- A 400-word statement addressing selection criteria
- A 150-word outline of post-school plans
- A 250-word summary explaining subject selection or work experience relevance
- A 150-word description of how scholarship funds will be used
- Most recent school report (all pages)
- Reference from someone who knows the applicant well (e.g. teacher, coach, employer)
- Principal’s supporting statement (initiated by the applicant via the online portal)
Note for Principals: Your statement plays a key role and must go beyond verifying enrolment. Generic or copy/pasted statements will disadvantage the applicant.
Submitting Your Application
Applications close at 5:00pm on Friday, 19 September 2025.
Further Information
Contact the Public Education Foundation at 02 7814 2806 or email scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
Friends of Zainab Senior Secondary Scholarship (Year 10)
The Public Education Foundation’s Friends of Zainab Secondary Scholarships help support refugee students through the critical years of their High School Certificate.
The scholarship was established in 2002 by Dorothy Hoddinott AO, the Principal of Holroyd High School in Sydney’s South-West. In its first year the scholarship enabled a young refugee, Zainab Kaabi, to complete her schooling and enter university.
This scholarship is for:
Senior Secondary Scholarship, Year 10 for students currently enrolled in Year 10 in 2025 - an annual bursary of $1,000 will be provided for each of Years 11 and 12.
The scholarship is to cover educational expenses such as:
- Laptop, iPad or another similar device
- Subject or study related software
- Uniforms and school shoes (including school sports clothing)
- Textbooks
- Stationery and general office items and equipment
- Printer
- Incidental fees (e.g. Textbook hiring, costs associated with a specialised subject etc.)
- Internet connection for study at home
- School excursions and school camps
- Costs associated with work experience linked to VET subjects
- Furniture for study such as desk, chair, lamp etc
- Face to face or online tutoring
If a student leaves public school before the end of Year 12, the scholarship will lapse. Please note - if a student’s attendance rate falls below an acceptable level at any time during the duration of the scholarship, the scholarship may be withdrawn. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund.
Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the scholarship terms and conditions available on our website.
Basic Eligibility
- A refugee
- Currently in Year 10 (2025)
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
Note: Students who have applied for protection but do not currently have either permanent residence or Australian Citizenship will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Selection Criteria
- Experiencing personal or socioeconomic disadvantage
- Have a positive attitude towards schooling
- Have made academic progress whilst at school and demonstrated motivation to achieve academically and professionally with an intention to carry on to tertiary education
- Demonstrate they participate in school life
- Demonstrate they contribute to the community and/or in extracurricular activities
Selection Process
A selection panel comprising Public Education Foundation representatives and independent experts will assess applications against the selection criteria. Recommendations will be approved by the Foundation’s Board. Successful applicants will be notified in December 2025.
How to Apply
Apply via our online portal at PEF-Apply. All sections, including the Principal’s Supporting Statement, must be completed before submission.
Application Requirements
- Personal and family details
- Proof of residence status (VEVO check, visa, or citizenship certificate – IMMICARDs are not accepted)
- Parent/guardian contact information
- School details and a point of contact at the school
- Background information including language spoken at home, caregiver, education level of household, etc.
- A 400-word statement addressing selection criteria
- A 150-word outline of post-school plans
- A 250-word summary explaining subject selection or work experience relevance
- A 150-word description of how scholarship funds will be used
- Most recent school report (all pages)
- Reference from someone who knows the applicant well (e.g. teacher, coach, employer)
- Principal’s supporting statement (initiated by the applicant via the online portal)
Note for Principals: Your statement plays a key role and must go beyond verifying enrolment. Generic or copy/pasted statements will disadvantage the applicant.
Submitting Your Application
Applications close at 5:00pm on Friday, 19 September 2025.
Further Information
Contact the Public Education Foundation at 02 7814 2806 or email scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.