Change the future of young high-potential girls

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.” 

Links:

• ABCN Foundation
• The Accelerate program
• Why our work is needed