FAQs

The Sisters of Charity Foundation supports initiatives that benefit the disadvantaged, marginalised and socially isolated people in our community, no matter their religion, ethnicity, gender, age or ability.

Eligibility to receive support through our programs is not determined by religion.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation relies on the generous support of its donors. One-off donations and regular gifts enable the Foundation to deliver its many life-changing programs.

The Foundation also welcomes gifts in Wills and workplace giving commitments to help better plan for the future. With guaranteed funds in place the Foundation can expand its programs and develop its charitable activities with confidence.

Donations of two dollars or more to the Sisters of Charity Foundation are tax-deductible. For more information and to donate visit here.

The Board is comprised of 10 experienced men and women who are passionate about the Foundation’s vision for society, who volunteer their time and skill to the organisation. For more information on each current member of the Sisters of Charity Foundation Board, please see Governance.

The Foundation provides grants of up to $15,000 for community based projects that benefit disadvantaged, marginalised and socially isolated people. However, every Community Grant application is first assessed by our Grants Allocation Committee that decides how much to provide each project based on its details and purpose.

The next grant round is the:

July 2025 Grant Round
Opens 1 July 2025 / Closes 31 July 2025
The link to the online application will be available here from 1 July 2025.

IMPORTANT: from 2025 onwards, the Sisters of Charity Foundation will hold one grant round each year, opening mid-year.

For more information on the application process and forms please see applying for grants.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides financial support for community projects that are selected according to strict funding guidelines. All Community Grants Program applications go through a due diligence process which confirms the organisation’s ABN, ITE and DGR Item 1 status, levels of other funding received and the reputation of the applicant organisation.

Once financial support is given, the Sisters of Charity Foundation maintains a regular dialogue with the Community Grants Program recipient; and receives regular progress reports, testimonials and photos to ensure funds are used as designated and that positive results are achieved.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation does not support overseas projects and programs. The Foundation’s priority is to fund locally based projects and programs that assist those living with poverty and disadvantage in Australia.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship Program is the only scholarship program in Australia that targets young people who live in out of home care, a growing group estimated at more than 40,000 nationally.

Unfortunately, less than 1% of young people who live in foster care, group homes or other out-of-home care arrangements are able to attend university, compared to approximately 40% of young people in the general population. Many become caught in a cycle of disadvantage and lose access to both education and much needed learning support.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation is determined to turn that around by continuously developing and expanding our Tertiary Scholarship Program. We believe this particular group of young people deserves a second chance, and that education is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

To be eligible to apply for the Tertiary Scholarship Program, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
• Be aged 27 or under
• Be currently in out-of-home care, or have previously been in out-of-home care
• Demonstrate that you are experiencing educational disadvantage and financial hardship
• Demonstrate academic achievements, commitment, and motivation to study and to successfully complete the course, and to gain employment

Learn more about the scholarship program and download an application form here.

Scholarship recipients are obliged to complete the course for which they sought the scholarship and must maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout. This means the recipient must pass all their courses and maintain a reasonable workload in each semester of study. The recipient may also be required to submit a progress report at the end of each academic year, outlining the progress of study undertaken during the tenure of the scholarship.

The 2023 Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2021, around 41,000 people were living in slavery-like conditions (often referred to as ‘modern slavery’) in Australia. Precise figures for victims are difficult to obtain because of the secretive nature of the problem.

Examples of modern slavery in Australia include: migrant workers being paid minimal wages and working long hours, a child bride being forced to marry by her family, fruit-pickers isolated and underpaid on rural farms, backpackers fulfilling their farm work visa requirements being taken advantage of… sadly there are countless stories.

Human trafficking is just one example of modern slavery, and involves the transportation or recruitment of people for the sole purpose of exploitation. Victims may have been forced or coerced by those committing the offence.

According to the Australian Federal Police, Australia is primarily a destination country for people trafficked from Asia, particularly Thailand, Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia.