The Australian Council of Social Service today welcomed news that Westpac Group has established the $100 million Westpac Bicentennial Foundation, the single largest private education scholarship program in Australia.

The Foundation will fund around 100 educational scholarships and awards each year which will be awarded in partnership with Australian universities.

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie said: “Education is a fundamental way to empower people living in poverty and disadvantage, and ACOSS welcomes Westpac’s commitment to help extend the benefits of education to those for whom it might otherwise sadly have been out of reach.”

Dr Goldie singled out the Young Technologists program, which will offer 30 to 40 three-year undergraduate scholarships annually to encourage diversity and overcome economic disadvantage, as well as the Community Leaders program, which will provide ten awards annually to community leaders to undertake educational opportunities that will have direct value to their communities.

The Westpac Bicentennial Foundation was launched today by the Westpac Group Chairman, Mr Lindsay Maxsted, Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Gail Kelly, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP.

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Westpac Bicentennial Foundation website.