Education CHANCES Scholarship Program

The Education CHANCES Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students aged 12 to 25 who live or study in Boroondara and whose families are experiencing financial hardship.

If you are a financially disadvantaged young person attending school in Boroondara, the social divide is clearly visible. It is harder for young people from financially disadvantaged homes to achieve educationally, due to limited resources: inability to buy textbooks, computer supplies and meet the costs of camps and excursions. These situations can restrict the young person’s ability to participate in extracurricular, social, or cultural activities, which may lead to social isolation and adversely affect their educational achievements.

Scholarship Applications

Education CHANCES supports qualifying students year on year throughout their secondary and tertiary education, providing long term financial security towards completion of their studies and the pursuit of a meaningful career.

An Education CHANCES scholar receives financial support which can be used to provide school essentials; including textbooks, MYKI cards, computers, IT costs, uniform costs, participation in extracurricular school activities (school sport, outings, events, music lessons, excursions, camps and leadership activities).

Approximately 100 to 130 scholarships are awarded each year. For information about applying for a scholarship, go here.

For further information contact:

• Helen Worladge, Programs Manager — programs@educationchances.org.au
• Sue Felton, Philanthropy Manager — philanthropy@educationchances.org.au

Speaking Made Easy

Are there times when you would like to give your opinion, present a speech at a function or at work, but you don’t because you are shy or you think you are not good at public speaking? Many people feel that way.

Speaking Made Easy is a public speaking training club for women where you will learn the skills to communicate with confidence. Speaking Made Easy offers a friendly place to practice writing speeches, learn voice production and how to use gestures and descriptive word pictures to enhance your presentation.

You don’t have to give a presentation or make a speech until you feel ready.

We meet at 12.15 to 1.45pm in Meeting Room 1 at the Camberwell Library on the fourth Thursday of the month. You are welcome to come to a meeting to get to know our members and observe the way we work.

Our meeting dates for the rest of 2026 are 23 July, 7 August, 24 September, 22 October, 26 November and we celebrate our anniversary on Saturday 5 December.

All enquiries regarding visiting a meeting and membership should be addressed to: Membership Officer by email at vic.membership@speakingmadeeasy.com.au.

For more information, go to our website at https://speakingmadeeasy.com.au/ or phone our Membership Officer, Sherrilyn Ballard on 0459 186 670.

English Conversation on Sundays – Burwood Heights Uniting Church

Giant Steps

Giant Steps is a registered charity and also a school located in Kew that supports children and adults on the autism spectrum. We do not charge fees and rely heavily on the fundraising efforts of our families and the wider community.

Alamein Neighbourhood Learning Centre (ANLC)

U3A Hawthorn – Your Gateway to learning

U3A Hawthorn was established for people in their third age who are over the age of 55 and are retired or are semi-retired. Our Mission is to provide opportunities for seniors to learn, teach, share and to give mutual support to each other in a friendly and warm environment, regardless of ethnicity, religion, ability or disability.

Our courses cover a wide range of interest areas, from academic to physical and artistic activities. Our members enjoy both the intellectual engagement and the social aspect of our courses.

U3A Hawthorn is open to anyone who is retired or no longer working full time. No qualifications are required to join. Our courses are non-competitive, without marks or exams. We focus on enabling members to expand their knowledge in existing areas, and to explore new fields and activities.

Phone: 9821 0282.  Email: mail@u3ahawthorn.org.au.  Website: u3ahawthorn.org.au.  Office Hours 9.30am to 4pm

Bored in retirement and wanting to enjoy it more? At U3A Ringwood we offer, the retired and the semi-retired in and around Ringwood and Maroondah, a lively spectrum of low cost retirement activities to challenge and engage your mind and body.

Why not make your third age the time of your life?  You’re never too old to learn something new. We have over 40 classes running every week and cover a wide range of interests including exercise, yoga, wine tasting, chess, 500, history and many more.

Ringwood U3A is located primarily in two central areas with public transport nearby. Our primary location and our office are located in the Parkwood Community Hub building at 35-39 Tortice Drive Ringwood North. We hold most of our larger and activity based classes at Kevin Pratt Pavilion (also known as the Norwood Sporting Club building) located at 58-60 Mullum Mullum Road, Ringwood. We hold our Line Dancing class at the 4th Ringwood Scout Group Hall located at 17 Mines Road, Ringwood  East, Vic (opposite the Karralyka Centre).

We are a small and friendly group and encourage you to check out our website https://www.u3aringwood.org.au/ or email info@u3aringwood.org.au

Our tutors are very much appreciated and an annual lunch is our way of thanking them for all their hard work and selfless input to running their classes. Shown in this photo are tutors from Armchair Travel, Card Making, Elders and the Law, Current Affairs, Line Dancing and Scrabble.

U3A Box Hill

U3A Box Hill was established for people in their third age who are over the age of 50 and are retired or are semi-retired. Our Mission is to provide opportunities for seniors to learn, teach, share and to give mutual support to each other in a friendly and warm environment, regardless or ethnicity, religion, ability or disability.

Our courses cover a wide range of interest areas, from academic to physical and artistic activities. Our members enjoy both the intellectual engagement and the social aspect of our courses.

U3A Box Hill is open to anyone who is retired or no longer working full time. No qualifications are required to join. Our courses are non-competitive, without marks or exams. We focus on enabling members to expand their knowledge in existing areas, and to explore new fields and activities.