It was more than 150 years ago that Caroline Chisholm made her mark on Australia, helping people to find housing and jobs.
Today, in the tradition of the famous philanthropist, the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation helps those facing financial hardship to cover their course fees at Chisholm. The charity supports current and future students who may otherwise be unable to access study.
Three recipients of scholarships from the foundation have shared their stories.
Gabriella Marchingo
Having suffered a back injury while working as a nurse and having raised children, Gabriella had been out of the workforce for many years when she decided she wanted to pursue her passion for computers.
Gabriella wanted to study the Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology at Chisholm but needed financial help to cover the fees.
After learning about the foundation during an information session at the Chisholm Library, Gabriella applied for assistance and was approved, allowing her to enrol in the six-month course.
The course cemented Gabriella’s love of computers and helped her to decide which areas of IT she’d like to learn more about. “I’ve loved that course. I’ve absolutely adored it,” she says. “I think it was pitched very well to the right audience. I had an interest in computers and this has just made it a passion.”
The course has helped Gabriella to discover networking and cloud computing and she now hopes to study a Certificate IV course in the future.
Susan Levkovski
Susan is the mum of 21-year-old twins Luka and Andrei Todorovic who both have special needs.
Luka is enrolled in Chisholm’s Certificate I in Work Education, while Andrei studies the Certificate I in Transition Education.
Susan says it was one of her son’s teachers who told her about the foundation, recognising that paying for two lots of fees would be tough on the single mum. “I think this is just so important, the financial assistance, otherwise I would have scraped something to get them in,” Susan says.
The courses and environment at TAFE have been beneficial for Luka and Andrei and Susan says they both love attending. “I feel the Chisholm setting is ideal for them, they have thrived,” she says. “The social component of being part of Chisholm is important- going to school, going to the canteen and the library.”
Natasha Brocklesby
When art-lover Natasha Brocklesby finished Year 12, she knew she wanted to study a visual art course at Chisholm.
But Natasha was unable to afford the course fees, so she took a gap year instead.
When she eventually applied for the Certificate IV in Visual Arts at Chisholm the following year, a staff member told her about the foundation and she was able to successfully apply for a scholarship.
She loved the course, which she has since completed, and has now started the Diploma of Visual Arts (Illustration) receiving assistance from the foundation once again. “I’m so grateful or I wouldn’t be able to do this,” she says. “I don’t have any help.”
With a talent for creating characters and designs, the 21-year-old hopes to find work in concept design for film, TV or book covers. “I’ve done a few commissions privately,” she says.
The dedicated student has a six hour return trip via public transport to study at the Frankston campus, but she says it’s worth it. “I wanted to do this so I’m willing to put in the time,” Natasha says.
You can find out more about donating to the education fund or accessing a scholarship at the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation.
