Chey-Anne is thriving at university

Growing up, Chey-Anne was active and involved herself in everything, especially sport. She had the mindset to always give something a go, even if she wasn’t naturally good at it. In school she was often top of the class in subjects like Multimedia, English and PE.

However, her final years at school were very challenging. “At 16 and 17 years old I was managing things like rent, bills, and day-to-day responsibilities while still trying to attend school,” she explains. “That period impacted my attendance and ultimately my final results. I still managed to graduate, but it wasn’t a true reflection of what I was capable of at the time.”

Finding confidence to take the next step

Chey-Anne received a scholarship in 2026 to study a three-year Bachelor of Criminology at Deakin University.

She always wanted to go to university, but for a long time didn’t believe she was capable of handling the pressure and completing the course. Fortunately, that mindset changed. “As I’ve gotten older and gained more life experience, I’ve realised that I am capable, and that I always have been,” she says. “I think a big part of it was confidence and believing that I deserved to be there.”

Being accepted into her degree helped her realise she’d made the right choice. “This was exactly what I needed to stay motivated and push myself,” Chey-Anne explains. “Now that I’ve started studying, it’s been really rewarding to learn something I’m genuinely interested in. It’s made a big difference being engaged in what I’m doing, and it’s helped me push through the challenges that come with it.”

Understanding crime to create change

Chey-Anne is interested in why people commit crime, and how different systems respond to it. She currently works in corrections and immigration detention and has seen first-hand how complex people’s situations can be. “I’m looking forward to learning the theory [behind why people commit crime] and understanding things on a deeper level, not just from experience but academically as well,” she says.

“My long-term goal is to build a career within the criminal justice or intelligence space, potentially working in areas related to serious crime or counter-terrorism. I want to be in a role where I’m not just observing the system, but actively contributing to it in a meaningful way and making a real impact.”

Like all our scholarship students, Chey-Anne’s schedule is packed. Her work in detention services involves long shifts, sometimes at night. She organises her lectures, readings and assignments around work – but also prioritises staying active through soccer, running and swimming. “It helps me manage stress and stay balanced,” she says.

First set of twins to receive scholarships

When Chey-Anne learnt she’d received a scholarship she was initially shocked. “It took a while to sink in!” she admits. “I felt really grateful and proud of myself. It felt like recognition of how far I’ve come.”

In a first for our scholarship program, Chey-Anne’s twin sister Tori-Lee also received a scholarship this year, to study a three-year Bachelor of Social Work at James Cook University. “We’ve both been able to build positive paths for ourselves,” says Chey-Anne. “It’s been really motivating to have someone so close to me who understands where we’ve come from and pushes me to keep improving.”

Chey-Anne plans to use the scholarship for study-related costs as well as everyday expenses. “It allows me to focus more on doing well in my degree rather than just getting through,” she says. “The financial support definitely helps, but it also means more than that – it feels like someone is backing me and believing in what I’m trying to achieve.”

Chey-Anne’s message to supporters

“I’d like to genuinely thank the Foundation and its supporters for investing in students like me. Your support doesn’t just help financially, it gives people opportunities they may not have thought were possible for themselves. It truly makes a difference. 

I think it’s important for people to understand that where you come from doesn’t have to define where you’re going. 

Opportunities like this can genuinely change someone’s path, and I’m really grateful to be in a position where I can take that opportunity and make something of it.”

About the Tertiary Scholarship Program

The Sisters of Charity Foundation awards tertiary scholarships to young people from out-of-home care backgrounds (foster care, kinship care, residential care etc).

Financial support helps recipients afford university or TAFE study expenses (course fees; textbooks; technology; and attending workshops, networking events and internships) as well as the cost of living on their own with no parental support. The scholarship lets them focus on their studies, rather than having to hold down multiple jobs or work full-time hours.