On 8 April, Housing Trust (HT) came together to celebrate a milestone close to many hearts, 10 years of the Tylah West Education Scholarship.
For a decade, the scholarship has quietly and consistently supported tenants to take steps towards their goals, opening doors through education, training and new opportunities. Along the way, it has helped 268 people move forward, often by easing the everyday financial pressures that can make studying or starting work feel out of reach.
Support through the scholarship has always been shaped around what people need. Sometimes that has meant school uniforms or textbooks, other times a laptop, course fees, tools or specialist equipment. It’s practical support, offered at the right moment, and it has made a real difference in people’s lives.
The scholarship was established in memory of Tylah West, a young Aboriginal woman and much‑loved Housing Trust trainee who passed away in 2015. Tylah was known for her kindness, generosity and belief in others, qualities that continue to live on through the program. Housing Trust is deeply grateful to Tylah’s family for their ongoing support, ensuring her legacy continues to give back to the community in her honour.
The anniversary was marked with the presentation of 51 scholarships, one of the largest groups supported since the program began. Held at the BlueScope Visitors Centre in Coniston, the event brought together recipients, their families, sponsors, Housing Trust staff and community partners. It was a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate everything the scholarship has made possible over the past 10 years.
Since its beginning, the Tylah West Education Scholarship has distributed $270,000 to support tenants on their learning journeys. Those journeys have looked different for everyone involved. They have included preschoolers just starting out, apprentices training as mechanics, medical students, and learners in their 70s returning to study. Across all ages and stages, the scholarship has helped people believe in themselves and take positive steps forward.
This year’s recipients included primary and high school students, people studying at TAFE or university, and others re‑entering work or training. While their paths varied, they shared a common determination to build a better future when the right support was there to back them.
HT CEO Amanda Winks said the 10‑year milestone would be an important moment to reflect on the impact of long‑term, people‑centred support.
“The Tylah West Education Scholarship is about possibility,” Ms Winks said. “Over the past decade we have seen tenants of all ages discover confidence, open doors to new opportunities and take pride in what they are capable of achieving. Today is about celebrating those achievements and acknowledging Tylah’s legacy, which continues to touch so many lives through this scholarship.”
The 2026 scholarships were made possible through the generosity of community partners, including new major sponsor NSW Ports, alongside long‑standing supporter CommBank. Additional funds were raised through Housing Trust’s annual Golf Day.
As HT looks to the future of the Tylah West Education Scholarship, the focus remains the same, supporting people to learn, grow and build pathways towards independence, confidence and success.
