Grow a Star is an innovative youth mentoring and scholarship program that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome the financial or generational obstacles that prevent them from following their dreams. Since its New South Wales launch in 2012, the program has assisted 166 young people from the Hunter, Central Coast, Mid North Coast and remote Central West regions to pursue their
academic, artistic and sporting goals at grass-roots and representative levels. In 2016, Grow a Star expanded its geographic reach with the extension of the program into Queensland. Grow a Star’s focus is to provide targeted funding to support young people who show an eagerness, talent or passion to develop their skills in a chosen field. The funding is a “hand-up” not a “hand-out” and is intended to build self esteem, to bring about generational change and to foster future leaders within our communities. The Grow a Star program was created by Compass Housing Services and is the first of its kind to be designed and operated by a community housing provider. The program encourages collaboration between other agencies and mentors – specifically support networks, welfare organisations, sporting partners, government bodies and corporate contributors. In addition to helping young people follow their dreams the program delivers a range of social benefits including increased self-esteem, better school performance and reduced anti-social behaviour within the community. Do you know a young person who could do with some support through the Grow a Star program to realise their dreams? Eligible recipients must be 5-18 years old, reside in NSW, QLD or New Zealand, be engaged in education, training or employment and able to demonstrate a need for assistance. Go to https://growastar.org to download a nomination form.
