Introduction
The David Burgess Scholarship Foundation supports young people facing significant adversity as they move from secondary school into tertiary education. Its scholarships combine financial assistance with mentoring, focusing on students from Victorian government secondary schools who have limited financial, family or social support.
For donors and education professionals, the foundation represents a targeted approach to educational philanthropy: helping students access further study while providing personal encouragement during the transition.
History and Background
Established in Memory of David Burgess
The foundation was established in 1991 in memory of David Burgess MBE, whose community contributions included a strong commitment to young people, education and state schools. Its scholarship programme continues that educational legacy.
The foundation’s governing-document history records its original establishment on 12 May 1991 as a sub-fund of the Victorian Community Foundation, with ANZ Executors & Trustee Company as trustee.
Continuing Family Involvement
Australian Government honours documentation published in 2023 recognised Mary Lorna Burgess for community service. It recorded her involvement as a foundation co-founder, board member, secretary, fundraiser and scholarship mentor dating from 1991. This provides evidence of longstanding personal involvement in the foundation’s work.
Mission and Purpose
The foundation aims to help financially disadvantaged students with little or no support system make the transition from school to tertiary study. Its assistance combines course-related funding with ongoing guidance.
The current application guidance prioritises circumstances where significant adversity and limited support create a genuine risk to a student’s ability to access or succeed in further education. It also considers determination, personal goals and contributions to others.
This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to students whose potential may be constrained by circumstances beyond academic performance alone.
Governance and Structure
Charitable Trust Framework
The Australian Business Register identifies The Trustee for the David Burgess Scholarship Foundation, ABN 87 853 049 810, as a trust registered as a charity from 5 December 2023. It also records deductible gift recipient status from that date. This registration relates to the current entity and should be distinguished from the programme’s origins in 1991.
The published trust deed identifies Equity Trustees Wealth Services Limited as trustee and provides for a public charitable fund supporting scholarships, bursaries and prizes.
Application Administration
Equity Trustees publishes the scholarship information and hosts the application process through SmartyGrants. The portal provides administrative contacts and guidance on completing, reviewing and submitting nominations.
Funding and Grants
Scholarship Value
The current application form states that successful applicants receive up to A$7,500 per year towards course costs, alongside mentoring throughout their studies. Applicants should use the current round’s documents when confirming the assistance available.
Funding Mechanism
The trust deed provides for receiving gifts from the public, establishing a mechanism for charitable contributions to support its educational purposes. The sources reviewed do not establish a current endowment value, annual fundraising total or fixed number of scholarships available each year.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Tertiary Education Scholarships
The programme prioritises Year 12 students from Victorian State Secondary Colleges entering courses at Victorian universities or TAFE institutes. Its support is directed towards the transition into further education and continued participation in study.
Mentoring
Mentoring is a central component of the award. Equity Trustees describes it as friendly, non-professional support that continues during tertiary studies, complementing the financial assistance.
School-Led Nominations
Students cannot apply directly. A staff member from the nominating school must complete the application, and the student must know about the nomination. The form also invites schools to discuss adjustments needed to make the application or interview process accessible.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Published Scholarship Reach
Equity Trustees reports that more than 70 scholarships have been awarded. It also states that recipients who completed tertiary study have found employment in Australia and overseas. The page does not provide a reporting period or detailed completion and employment statistics.
Supporting Educational Opportunity
The documented model addresses two barriers together: limited financial resources and limited personal support. Funding helps with course costs, while mentoring offers continuity as students move beyond the school environment.
The available sources establish the programme’s purpose and reported reach, but do not provide named recipient case studies or an independently evaluated impact assessment.
Conclusion
The David Burgess Scholarship Foundation provides focused educational support through annual scholarships and mentoring. Its school-led nomination process helps identify students facing adversity who could benefit from sustained assistance during tertiary study.
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