A Start in Life

A Start in Life For 100+ years, we’ve believed in what’s possible for young Australians. www.astartinlife.org.au

We provide tailored support to students aged 4–24 in NSW and ACT, helping them stay in school and build futures they’re proud of. For over 100 years, A Start in Life has been helping young Australians access education where financial disadvantage impacts their education – giving them the chance to learn, grow and thrive just like their peers. Our mission is to create a brighter future for young Au

stralians by empowering them with skills, guidance and financial support. Through our three programs, we support students in primary school, high school, university and TAFE with financial assistance, one-on-one mentoring, workshops and skills training, as well as access to resources, activities and experiences that enrich learning and wellbeing. We’ve walked alongside thousands of students – from children cared for by single parents and teenagers putting themselves through high school, to tertiary students who’ve moved hundreds of kilometres away from their rural towns to pursue their dreams. Receiving no government funding, everything we achieve is thanks to the generosity of our donors and community. Together, we’re nurturing and igniting young minds, unlocking potential, and opening doors to brighter futures. "The scholarship program has not only provided me with financial assistance but also with a community of mentors who have been invaluable in my academic journey." - Artie, university student

Sometimes the thank you comes back to us in a student's own words, and it lands harder than anything we could write ours...
20/08/2026

Sometimes the thank you comes back to us in a student's own words, and it lands harder than anything we could write ourselves.

Jonesy is one of the young people your support reaches. Behind that sentence is a family who found a way through a tough year, and a kid who got to keep showing up to school with everything he needed.

To everyone who gives, quietly and without ever meeting the students they back: this one is from him.

20/08/2026

Kathleen spent years in a classroom before she ran a charity, and it shows in how quickly she answers questions about students.

We put that to the test. No notes, no second takes, just our CEO on what keeps her turning up for young people across NSW and the ACT.

Home was no longer safe, so he left. What followed wasn’t easy, but with the right support, mentorship, and the chance t...
16/08/2026

Home was no longer safe, so he left. What followed wasn’t easy, but with the right support, mentorship, and the chance to discover a passion for fitness, Oswald found more than stability. He found purpose.

Today, he’s studying Exercise Science at university and working towards a career helping others improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Every young person deserves the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of, regardless of where they start.

Read Oswald’s inspiring story and see how opportunity can change a life.

🔗 Link in bio.

MentalHealthMatters ExerciseScience EducationForAll BreakingTheCycle HopeInAction Resilience SupportYoungPeople FutureFocused Charity AustralianCharity Nonprofit Purpose Opportunity CommunityImpact ChangeALife

Confidence on a clinical placement gets put down to talent, or years of practice.Janet reckons hers comes from something...
13/08/2026

Confidence on a clinical placement gets put down to talent, or years of practice.

Janet reckons hers comes from something much less impressive: a tidy set of notes and a study schedule she actually sticks to.

This semester she worked out that preparation is what settles her nerves before she walks through the clinic doors. Her notes, her plan, even how she turns up on the day. When the groundwork is done, there is less room for the second-guessing.

It is a small thing that changes everything, and it is the kind of steadiness we want every student we support to find.

(Name changed for privacy.)

13/08/2026

Nobody warned me that "grow our socials" meant standing in front of a camera asking strangers for help. I asked my boss what actually counts as going viral and he said "you'll know." So that's the brief. Very clear. Please help.

Anyway, we're A Start in Life. We've been backing students facing financial hardship since 1923, we've got some genuinely incredible stories to share, and I have a KPI to hit. Follow us and we both win.

When a construction site becomes a champion for a classroom, that's partnership.Our incredible partners at John Holland ...
11/08/2026

When a construction site becomes a champion for a classroom, that's partnership.

Our incredible partners at John Holland CPB Contractors Ghella Joint Venture (JCG) held a community raffle fundraiser, opening doors for young people like Rabi; a student from Lightning Ridge whose scholarship helped carry him through his mum's illness, and whose future just got a lot brighter.

Through the raffle we raised $6,710 to help the next generation of students. Read the full story of how a community raffle became a lifeline.

Read more: https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/insights-and-updates/the-chance-to-back-a-future-inside-the-big-draw/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=etp-raffle-2026&utm_content=thank-you-post

11/08/2026

This is what it means to have support, in our own students' words. 🎉💛
Prizegiving day is proof: when someone believes in you, celebrates you, and shows up for you, incredible things happen.

We asked our students what today meant to them, and their answers said it all.
So proud of every single one of you. This is just the beginning. 🌟


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There was a pencil running to bondi on Sunday, and he was faster than most of us!! That was Mitch, running the whole Cit...
10/08/2026

There was a pencil running to bondi on Sunday, and he was faster than most of us!! That was Mitch, running the whole City2Surf in costume for A Start in Life!!

Between all of our incredible runners, they raised $2,700.

Here is what that actually does. It buys school uniforms and shoes that fit properly. It puts a laptop in front of a student who has been doing homework on a phone. It covers textbooks, excursion costs and course fees, the sort of expenses that quietly decide whether a young person keeps going or steps away. Every dollar goes to students aged 4 to 24 across NSW and the ACT who are facing financial barriers to their education.

To everyone who ran, and to everyone who sponsored them, thank you. We are enormously proud of this team.

Home was no longer safe, so he left. What followed wasn't easy, but with the right support, mentorship, and the chance t...
07/08/2026

Home was no longer safe, so he left.

What followed wasn't easy, but with the right support, mentorship, and the chance to discover a passion for fitness, Oswald found more than stability. He found purpose.

Today, he's studying Exercise Science at university and working towards a career helping others improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Every young person deserves the opportunity to discover what they're capable of, regardless of where they start.

Read Oswald's inspiring story and see how opportunity can change a life.

🔗https://shorturl.at/Z8WXD

The government has pledged $3.6 billion to help disadvantaged students get into university and thrive there. The Opening...
06/08/2026

The government has pledged $3.6 billion to help disadvantaged students get into university and thrive there. The Opening the Doors of Opportunity Bill will offer needs-based funding for practical student resources and uncap regional and low socio-economic places.

But here's the thing about big, top-down change: it takes time to reach the students who need it most. And that's exactly where we come in.

For 103 years we've worked to support students on their journey from primary school through to university and TAFE. Offering everyday essentials, and ongoing holistic support.

Top-down policy and grassroots support, running parallel is essential to help individuals and open the doors for good.

Want to know why this bill is only half the story? Read our full take: https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/insights-and-updates/opening-the-doors-to-opportunity-not-just-a-top-down-approach/

Address

Suite 702, 370 Pitt Street
Haymarket, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61292643017

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