WE HELP LGBTQIA+ YOUTH TO REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL
About Us
We are Australia's LGBTQIA+ education charity. Our flagship program provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ Australians to realise their full potential.
The Foundation awards multi-year scholarships nationally to students aged between 18 and 26 for fulltime study at public higher education institutions in Australia to achieve educational or vocational qualifications in any profession, trade or the arts.
Scholarship applications open 1 July and close 31 August with scholarships awarded in December.
Every Pinnacle scholar is carefully matched with a mentor who will typically share the same academic and professional interests, gender identity and sexual orientation. The mentor acts as a role model. They will have walked the scholar’s path – and provide the encouragement, counsel and inspiration to support the scholar’s rounded development and successful completion of their studies.
Scholars and alumni also receive opportunities through the wider Pinnacle "family".
Additionally, we ally with The University of Sydney Business School to deliver the LGBTQIA+ Executive Fellowship:Â https://www.sydney.edu.au/business/study/executive-education/lgbtqia-executive-fellowship.html . The Fellowship, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, develops senior and executive leadership capabilities within the LGBTQIA+ community.
We rely on the generosity of our individual donors, philanthropic and corporate partners, the passionate contributions of over 200 volunteers, and a fulltime-equivalent staff of less than five, to deliver our program across Australia.
Your support will help to transform the lives of young scholars. The gift of education is one that impacts every aspect of a young person’s life to substantially enhance their future, and the contribution they make to our community.
What We Do
Founded in 2007, The Pinnacle Foundation is a national charity with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status that provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTQIA+ Australians to reclaim their path.
Scholarships Awarded
Alistair
Media Production, Visual Communication, and Creative Writing
Snow Foundation Scholarship
ACT
Leann (she/her/they/them)
Bachelor of Economics (Econometrics) & Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Political Economy)
The Ros and Diana Coffey Scholarship
NSW
Jesse (he/they)
Bachelor of Architectural Design
The Sydney Community Foundation, Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Fund Scholarship
NSW
Ono (they/them)
Bachelor of Law (Hons) / Bachelor of Arts (Gender Studies)
Commonwealth Bank Scholarship
ACT
Charlotte
Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability & Bachelor of International Relations
BHP Scholarship
ACT
Jye (he/him)
Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine
The Fred P Archer Charitable Trust Scholarship
NSW
Victoria (she/they)
Bachelor of Science/Master of Engineering
The Cubico Sustainable Investments Scholarship
VIC
Nikoletta (she/her)
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
The Bank of Melbourne Foundation Scholarship
VIC
Ada (she/her)
Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience)/ Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Olrem Scholarship
SA
Vincent (he/him)
Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability (Advanced) (Honours)/Bachelor of Music
The Anthony-Whitney Scholarship
ACT
Jay (he/him)
Bachelor of Journalism / Bachelor of Arts (Film & TV Studies)
The Dentsu Scholarship
QLD
Salv (he/him)
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law
The Geoffrey Smith & Gary Singer Scholarship
NSW
Melodie (she/her)
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine
The IVF Australia Scholarship
NSW
Max (he/him)
Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Studies - Majoring in Marketing and Politics and International Relations
The Darryl Wild Scholarship
NSW
Andrew (he/him)
Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Media and Communications
Bill Chambers Scholarship No. 2
NSW
D’Arcy (he/him)
Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Communication
Domino's Give for Good Scholarship
QLD
Katarina (she/her)
Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Development)
The Don Dunstan AC QC Scholarship
SA
Dominic (he/they)
Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics)
The Mike Gordon Scholarship (2)
NSW
Alana (she/her)
Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Bachelor of Criminology
The SHK Asia Pacific Scholarship
VIC
Ren (she/her)
Bachelor of Law / Bachelor of Science (Enivromental Biology)
Commonwealth Bank Scholarship
NSW
Thomeissa (she/her)
Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Indigenous Studies and minoring in Visual Arts
The Sydney Community Foundation, Peter Brennan AM & Michael Lynch Fund Scholarship
NSW
Arnav (he/they)
Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) /Bachelor of Design in Architecture
Mirvac Scholarship
NSW
Sam (he/him)
Bachelor of Law(Hons)/ Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology).
The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG Scholarship
NSW
Jaius (he/him)
Bachelor of Science / Commerce (environmental focus)
The Murray J Collins The City Gardener Scholarship
VIC
Charli (fae/they/them)
Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Arts
The Andrew Staite Scholarship
VIC
Michael (he/him)
Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine
Sir James McNeill Trust Scholarship
VIC
Izabelle (she/her)
Bachelor of Science (Cybercrime, Security, and Intelligence)(Dual Degree)
BHP Scholarship
WA
William (he/him)
Bachelor of Arts (Extended) Majoring in Gender Studies & Japanese
The Pippa Downes Scholarship
VIC
Edward (he/they)
Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
The King & Wood Mallesons Scholarship
NSW
Angela (she/her)
Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Political Science)
The Dr Craig White and Rod Anderson Tasmanian Scholarship
SA
Dylan
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Indigenous Studies and Politics
The Bibbulmun Fund Scholarship
NSW
Lily (she/they)
PhD (researching disability access and representation in the Australian screen industry)
The WPP Scholarship
SA
