Social Impact of the Yalari Scholarship Program

Since 2005, Yalari has provided full boarding school scholarships to Indigenous students from regional and remote Australia, aiming to empower young people through education, connection, and opportunity.

In 2024, Yalari partnered with the Centre for Social Impact UWA to investigate key outcomes the Yalari program has achieved over nearly two-decades of operations.

The study sought to identify how Yalari’s unique vision, purpose and values underpin a working model that seeks tangible progress towards generation change for Indigenous children from regional and remote communities.

Grounded in Yalari’s ethos, the evaluation design expanded beyond conventional benchmarks in education by adopting a holistic perspective, whereby success is not defined only by academic achievement but also by nurturing cultural identity and ensuring students have robust community and familial backing. This was reflected in the range of short-, medium- and long-term outcomes for students, alumni, families, and schools selected to track the program’s overall social impact.

The study utilised a mixed method approach where students and alumni participated in yarning circles and surveys; sponsors, donors, supporters, and staff from Yalari and partner schools were interviewed; and program data was used to track progress and personal achievements throughout and beyond the scholarship program.

Key Impacts for Scholarship Students and Alumni

• Educational opportunity and empowerment: Yalari scholars have maintained a strong Year 10-12 retention rate of 84.1% since inception (well above national averages), with targeted support helping students build confidence and self-belief to pursue personal goals. This was further reflected in 70% of alumni survey participants pursuing further study post-school.
• Wellbeing and support: Students reported high levels of emotional and social wellbeing and resilience, particularly due to the trusted presence of Yalari’s Student Support Officers (SSOs).
• Cultural connection and identity: Students and alumni reported stronger connections to identity, culture and community, with 97% of surveyed students expressing increased cultural pride. This sense of cultural pride, alongside reciprocity, was central to their personal growth.
• Leadership, inspiration and reciprocity: Cultural activities, experiences, and mentorship supported students to find their voice, build resilience, and develop leadership skills tied to cultural pride. This growth was deeply relational, shaped by strong connections to culture, kin and community. This was reflected in 95% of students and alumni feeling inspired to be a role model and leader for their family and community.

“I really want to make a difference. It’s my biggest goal. I don’t care where - my town, another town, or Parliament House. Something must change, and I want to be the one to change it. It’s my biggest driver.”
– Yalari student

"Yalari had a great focus on leadership throughout my schooling. Having older Yalari students and alumni speak to us in the younger years inspired me to be a leader, a leader for the next generation of Yalari students, but also for [my] younger siblings."
– Yalari alumni

Opportunities identified to grow Yalari’s collective impact

• Additional health and wellbeing initiatives to support scholarship students and key SSO roles.
• Strengthening the Pathways Program to support the growing alumni network and cater for individual post-school aspirations
• Develop stronger relationships with partner schools to foster a culturally safe and responsive environment for all students.

The evaluation highlights that the Yalari Scholarship Program creates profound, positive outcomes that extend far beyond academic results— empowering Indigenous young people as leaders by strengthening their sense of self and cultural identity, and capacity to inspire change.