Landmark gift to support Indigenous students at UOW

Most students remember the moment they are accepted into uni. For some, there is a much bigger milestone; the realisation that they are here to stay. 

For too many students, studying comes with an additional weight. The cost of travel, textbooks, rent, equipment, and everyday essentials can mean talented students pause or walk away. 

However, a transformative $5 million philanthropic gift from Goodstack is supporting Indigenous students at the University of Wollongong (UOW) to continue studying without the stress of financial pressures. What began for the University as a conversation about honouring a legacy became something far bigger.  

Origins of impact 

In 2023, Goodstack (formerly Good2Give) contacted UOW to help fulfil the wishes of an incredibly generous bequest. The Lorna Earl and William Woodberry Scholarship was established to support Indigenous students enrolled in any degree at UOW. It offers practical support that meets students where they are, easing financial pressure so they can focus on learning, belonging, and thriving. 

“This extraordinary contribution, honouring the vision and legacy of Lorna and William Woodberry, will provide scholarship support in perpetuity for Indigenous students across any field of study at UOW. It is a powerful example of what philanthropy can do."

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu AO

Reducing pressure, increasing opportunity 

Since the scholarship’s inception, six students have been awarded support. Behind that number are six different stories and futures. 

For recipient Hunter Graham, the scholarship meant she could spend less time worrying about picking up an extra shift, and more time enjoying everything uni life had to offer. 

Hunter graduated from St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Albion Park in 2024 and was encouraged to apply for the scholarship by Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC).  

“I didn’t think I would get the scholarship,” she said. 

“By the end of Year 12, there were only about three Indigenous students, so I assumed it would likely go to students from other schools where more people were applying.” 

Hunter Graham says the support has helped ease financial pressures so she can focus on her studies. Photo: Michael Gray.

“The scholarship helped with things like buying an iPad and textbooks without having to worry,” she said.  

“It helped with not having to stress about working.” 

With fewer financial pressures, Hunter said she has been able to spend more time on campus soaking up the full university experience. 

“I am able to dive deeper into my studies and even my social life at uni. I wasn’t having to go between classes and work as much,” she said.  

“Even in class, I was able to study without having the stress and anxiety about financial stability.” 

“With exams, it would’ve been hard to work around everything, so having that support meant I wasn’t stressed.” 

Hunter said receiving the scholarship has also shifted how she and others around her viewed what was possible. She hopes to continue further study to become a physiotherapist once she finishes her UOW degree. 

“I think when people found out I received the scholarship; it changed how they saw it. It pushed people I knew to scope out scholarships they were eligible for and could apply for.”  

A partnership for good 

In 2025, the acquisition of Good2Give by Goodstack prompted discussions about how best to deliver on the desires and wishes of Lorna and William Woodberry into the future. Goodstack and UOW worked together to ensure the original intentions could be met and the scholarship could continue to support Indigenous students over the long term. 

Good2Give provided a $5 million grant to UOW to establish an endowed fund. Tom Bodger, COO of Goodstack, said the organisation was proud of the partnership they had built with UOW and that the scholarship would continue. 

“We are proud to see the Lorna Earl and William Woodberry bequest placed with the University of Wollongong where it will continue to empower Indigenous students for generations to come,” 

“Backed by the University’s deep expertise and dedicated team to guide and support recipients, the bequest will be able to change the lives of more students than ever before,” Bodger said. 

Lasting impact for generations to come 

As an endowed fund, the Lorna Earl and William Woodberry Scholarship will provide ongoing financial support for Indigenous students enrolled at UOW. With the donation invested and protected, the fund will generate annual income to support students in perpetuity.  

The Lorna Earl and William Woodberry Scholarship is open to Indigenous students enrolled in any UOW degree. In 2025, eight scholarships were offered, providing students with $15,000 in the first year of study, followed by $10,000 per annum in the second, third, and fourth years.  

Interim Vice President Indigenous Strategy and Engagement Catherine Moyle said the impact of scholarships extends beyond financial support. 

“Scholarships have a very tangible impact for our students through financial support, but we often underestimate the intangible impact too. It is the sense of knowing you have allies, that people believe in you, and that you deserve to be here. That confidence is priceless, and it is incredible to see the way students stand taller when they feel seen and supported,” Moyle says.  

The Lorna Earl and William Woodberry Scholarship will be reinstated in 2027, and for the students it supports, they can study with the certainty that they are here to stay.