The Housing NSW Youth Scholarship program aims to help young people living in social housing and studying in Years 11 or 12 to obtain their Higher School Certificate (HSC) or equivalent by providing a one-off significant financial grant to be spent on education-related items.

The Youth Scholarships program is delivered in partnership with the Department of Education and Training, and local schools.

Two Year 11 students at Nyngan High School have been successful in obtaining these scholarships for the 2008 year.

The students are Angela McDougall and Monique Turk. Recently, regional manager of Housing NSW Mark Byrne visited the school to present these scholarships.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, students must be:

o Studying in Year 11 or 12 at an educational institution for the year that the grant is awarded

o Under the age of 25

o Endorsed by their school or educational provider as being likely to achieve a good attendance record

o An Australian citizen or permanent resident

The grant is administered by the school or educational institution for the purchase of items or services that assist educational achievement, eg books, computer equipment or tuition.

Scholarship plans are developed by the student in partnership with their school to ensure that learning goals are linked to the assistance provided by this grant.

Grant money must be expended in the academic year that the grant is awarded.