Education Australia Project #54084

Change the future of young high-potential girls

by Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) Scholarship Foundation

Project Report | Jan 12, 2026
ABCN Update - January 2026

By Rebecca Edwards | Head of Partnerships

Mohadeesha and Vinti

2025 Graduating Scholars

With 2025 coming to a close, it was the end of the Accelerate scholarship journey for our 2023 cohort. We were delighted that the graduating scholars and their mentors were able to celebrate at ABCN's End of Year Events held around the country. One of our mentor - scholar pairs spoke at the Melbourne End of Year Event, sharing their 3-year journey:

When Vinti Bhargavadescribes first meeting Mohadeesa, the student she had been paired with, for ABCN’s Accelerate Scholarship program she recalls, ‘The first words Mohad ever said to me were: “I want to be a surgeon.” The second: “My parents won’t let me travel to Sydney for the ABCN workshop.” And then, the third, when I asked what she did for exercise: “I don’t have time.”

“It was such a small moment” Vinti said, “But it told me everything: this was a young woman carrying big dreams, big responsibilities, and not yet a lot of space for herself.”

What stayed with Mohadeesha from that first meeting was how she was spoken to by Vinti. "She talked to me like my dreams were normal - like wanting to be a surgeon wasn’t something outrageous, but something absolutely achievable. Everything was possible - even travelling interstate for the first time - which felt huge for me and my family".

“Every conversation made things less scary, more possible.” Mohadeesha said. “Now I’m studying my first-preference course at Monash, working at a pharmacy, and dreaming of owning pharmacies – plural! - one day. And I say that confidently because I’ve had someone - my family, ABCN and Vinti - who believed in me long before I believed in myself.”

Mohadeesha credits Accelerate with shifting her approach: “The Accelerate program didn’t just help me academically. It made me braver. It taught me to ask for help, to explore options, to believe that my background doesn’t limit my potential.”

For Vinti the experience has been equally affirming. “For me, Accelerate was a reminder that mentoring is not about fixing or directing. It’s about walking beside someone while they discover who they can become.”

Welcoming the 2026 New Scholars

In late 2025, ABCN was delighted to award 33 new Accelerate scholarships to start their 3-year program in February 2026. All scholars will be starting Year 11 in 2026 and are from schools across Australia, including New School Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

We warmly congratulate all 33 scholars. The program will covers Years 11, 12 and the first year of further education, training and/or employment, during which:

Scholars are matched with their own dedicated corporate mentor and participate in structured, facilitated sessions, 1:1 monthly meetings and a Big Day Out in person event.
The program syllabus covers: Goal setting and aspirations, peer mentoring, communication, time management, financial capability, leadership, resilience and wellbeing, identifying and mapping future pathways.
Scholars receive up to $7,000 for educational expenses paid in instalments over the three years.
Accelerate scholars connect with a network of roles models and like-minded students outside the scholar's existing community, providing workplace access and opportunities. These connections support the development of skills, growth mindsets, aspirations and vital social capital.

The information below introducs some of our exceptional scholars who will commence the program in 2026:

Leilani is a proud Ngunnawal student from New South Wales. She is an emerging leader who actively contributes to both school and community life. As a role model for younger Aboriginal girls, she demonstrates strength, cultural pride, and a commitment to creating positive change. With aspirations to become a paediatric nurse, she is passionate about improving healthcare access in rural communities and integrating her cultural heritage into her future profession. Supported by a strong family network, she draws inspiration from her roots and values. Beyond her academic and leadership pursuits, she loves playing football, showcasing her energy and team spirit..Leilani has the determination, a strong cultural identity, and a vision for a healthier, more inclusive future.

Ella, from WA, is an exceptionally bright student who excels in mathematics and science, currently participating in extension classes. She has a strong interest in architecture and engineering, with aspirations to pursue architecture at university. Highly creative and a deep thinker, Ella combines her analytical strengths with artistic talents, enjoying activities such as singing, playing the electric keyboard, and listening to music. Ella is proud of her Aboriginal culture and expresses her creativity through both STEM and the arts.. Ella demonstrates resilience and focus. Her curiosity spans architecture, landscape and automotive design, reflecting a passion for innovation and problem-solving.

A huge thank you for supporting ABCN's Accelerate Program, with your help we can support the futures of more exceptional girls with huge potential like Mohadeesha, Ella and Leilani.

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Sep 25, 2025
ABCN Update September 2025

By Victoria Bowring | Head of ABCN Foundation

Ava (scholar) and her Mentor

The ABCN Accelerate Scholars have had a strong 2025, with the Year 3 Scholars completing their final workshop this month and excited for the graduation events to be held in each state around the country in November.

Annual program surveys show that the program has continued to create meaningful impact for both scholars and mentors. For scholars, goal setting emerged as the most reported skill developed, equipping them with tools to plan and work toward their future aspirations. Many also highlighted that the financial award hashad a significant positive effect on their families, alleviating financial stress and enabling a renewed focus on their studies and future. The relationships built with mentors were consistently cited as one of the most valued aspects of the program, offering guidance and role modelling that they otherwise may not have had access to. From the mentors’ perspective, the year was deeply rewarding, with many emphasizing the importance of contributing to their community, finding personal fulfillment, and providing meaningful support to scholars. Mentors also observed that the most noticeable change among scholars was a boost in confidence, a key indicator of long-term growth and success.

Outside of the scheduled Accelerate group sessions our scholars have been meeting regularly with their mentors and attending variety or workplace visits and university open days. These opportunities are invaluable, especially for reinforcing the tertiary education pathways and career aspirationsof scholars ahead of theirfinal High School exams in October 2025.

The extra support provided by our dedicated mentors during this period is very much appreciated by the scholars:

“My mentor's dedication and commitment to making real, tangible change in the company and the world around her is absolutely inspiring and she demonstrates to me that even if you are unsure about your path in life right now, you can still do amazing things, and taking risks can sometimes be the most beneficial thing.” Year 3 Scholar

“My mentor has given me the capacity to excel at my own academic and personal boundaries. She is in touch with my goals and makes a true and conscious effort to assist me in succeeding in them.” Year 3 Scholar

SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT

Year 1 scholar, Ava, joined the program expressing that she often felt lost and overwhelmed when thinking about her future and the steps needed to achieve her goals. With a strong interest in psychology and neuroscience, she was eager to find guidance and clarity. Through her mentor’s support, Ava recently had an incredible opportunity to connect with a professional in the medical field. Although her mentor works in IT, she leveraged her network to arrange a meeting with a friend who works in diagnostic genomics and has a background in molecular science. While this career path differs from Ava’s ultimate goal of becoming a neuroscientist, the conversation was deeply impactful. Ava was able to ask insightful, challenging questions about the journey into medicine, the steps required, and the obstacles along the way. This experience not only provided her with valuable knowledge but also gave her a tangible sense of possibility and direction, highlighting the transformative impact the program can have — even in its very first year.

“I appreciate all of the opportunities that have suddenly been opened up to me. I have had to chance to meet up with a scientist working in cancer genomics and ask her questions related to my future career. I found this incredibly helpful and it has given me guidance on where to go from here. Without the scholar mentor relationship I would not have been able to have this experience. I have also been able to explore new careers through my mentor’s career at Optus through a visit to her building. This was incredibly interesting and gave me new knowledge and perspectives on the working world.”

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May 27, 2025
ABCN Update - May 2025

By Victoria Bowring | Head of ABCN Foundation

2025 Summit Opera House Walk

Leadership Summit Highlights

The 2025 Accelerate Leadership Summit brought together 28 scholars from across Australia for a dynamic two-day event in Sydney.

Hosted by Optus Telecommunications Company, the program featured an insightful “Find Your Purpose” session and behind-the-scenes Optus campus tour. An evening networking event connected scholars and mentors with special guest, Federal Member of Parliament, Allegra Spender, whose engaging Q&A session sparked confident and thoughtful participation from students—many of whom demonstrated leadership potential and budding political interest. Day 1 of the summit fostered amazing peer connections, with the scholars finishing up with a relaxed movie night screening the classic Grease.

On Day 2, iconic sightseeing visits to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge further strengthened the connections with their peers and mentors, as did an identity-themed art activity at the Museum of Contemporary Art, encouraging personal reflection and creative expression.

Scholar Spotlight – Fadila

Fadila, one of our first Accelerate scholars in 2013, recently returned to the spotlight as the emcee for the ABCN 20th Anniversary Celebration, hosted by Macquarie Bank at Circular Quay, Sydney. In her speech, she reflected on how the Accelerate program helped her overcome a fear of public speaking and instilled the importance of mentorship.

‘As part of the program, I met such a diverse range of individuals and was exposed to the real world. It opened my eyes to so many opportunities, like attending the leadership summit, increasing my public speaking skills and building up my confidence brick by brick. I also had my mentor, Caitlin, who backed me up and help me refine university applications. I was able to attend tutoring which also really helped me massively in my studies.

It gave me the confidence to join extracurriculars in high school and reach for every opportunity during university, and eventually find my passion as a software engineer.’

Now a Senior Software Engineer at Atlassian, Fadila credits Accelerate as a foundational influence in her personal and professional development. Her journey is a testament to the long-term impact of the program.

Our Deepest Gratitude

The Accelerate Scholarship Program continues to provide young girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with access to vital mentoring experiences that shape students' confidence, aspirations, and leadership potential. Thank you for your continued support in making these transformative opportunities possible.

2013 Accelerate Alumni Scholar Fadila

Fadila - ABCN 20th Anniversary Celebrations

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