Red

For Red, receiving a scholarship has been life‑changing. As a single mother who has courageously escaped domestic violence, the opportunity to access financial support has helped her regain confidence, rediscover her strengths, and take meaningful steps toward the future she is working so hard to create.

After escaping domestic violence and raising her son on her own, Red found herself isolated and without a support network. Managing the financial demands of study while caring for her child felt overwhelming. With English as her third language, Red also faced additional challenges, feeling she lacked the foundational language skills needed to structure her writing and communicate confidently and effectively.

With support from Chisholm’s Reconnect Program, Red was referred to the Certificate III in General Education to strengthen her English skills and rebuild her confidence. For the first time, she found a course that felt manageable and a learning environment where she felt genuinely supported. Receiving the scholarship significantly eased financial pressures and helped smooth her transition back into education.

Receiving the scholarship has helped Red rebuild her confidence by bringing clarity to areas of study that once felt overwhelming. Strengthening her English skills is a vital step toward achieving her long‑term goal of completing a Bachelor of Arts and pursuing a career as an art teacher. As she envisions her future in education, Red hopes to create a learning environment grounded in comfort, understanding, and safety for students from all backgrounds—particularly those navigating challenges similar to her own.

To the donors who make the scholarship possible, Red says they provide “a light in someone’s dark days.” As a single parent, Red feels the impact deeply. Red is deeply grateful to the Foundation for helping her regain hope, explore her potential, and work toward the life she wants.

“My message to the donors is that I am very thankful for their donations, because it's really helped me through my journey and transition into a life that I want. They've genuinely helped take that pressure off, especially as a single mom.”
“The scholarship has really helped me take a lot of the financial burdens and the general burden that comes with study. I'm a single mum. I don't have any support around me. I've come to a new area. It really helped ease me into study.”

Read more:

• The generosity of our partners, sponsors and donors opens doors to education and opportunity. Read more about partnering with the Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation.
• Read more about Certificate III in General Education.
• Read more about the Reconnect program at Chisholm, supporting Victorians experiencing barriers to education.