TCF April Funding Announcements

The TCF Board has allocated $2.1 million to two education-based programs which will to benefit Tasmanian school children.

The first, Volunteering Tasmania’s EmpowerED program, will focus on students in Years 10–12 who are most at risk of disengaging from education—particularly those in regional, rural and low socio-economic communities.

Research shows that many young people begin to disengage when they struggle to see the relevance of classroom learning or lack access to real-world experiences and clear career pathways. EmpowerED responds by embedding structured, curriculum-aligned volunteering opportunities into schools, giving students meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect learning with life beyond the classroom.

By strengthening partnerships between schools, communities and volunteer-involving organisations, EmpowerED aims to build confidence, increase engagement and support participant’s smoother transitions into further education, training or employment.

The second program, Reconciliation Tasmania’s Reconciliation Education Grants Program will address a longstanding gap in Tasmania’s education system: the need for culturally safe and inclusive learning environments. While many schools are eager to teach Aboriginal histories and cultures, they often lack the confidence, capability, and partnerships to do so in meaningful ways.

The program seeks to change that by providing small grants and mentoring to schools, enabling them to co-design learning experiences with Tasmanian Aboriginal people, educators and local businesses. Over the next five years, it is expected to reach around 200 schools and 100,000 students statewide.

The initiative will help embed cultural safety and understanding across the Tasmanian school system.