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 Australians 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

09/10/2026

Great design isn't just about how a building looks.

We toured Meriden Senior School's award-winning Design and Creative Arts building with LEA NSW and ASBA NSW: sculptural, sustainable, and built around one idea. Good spaces help students learn, create and thrive.

That’s exactly why A Start in Life is proud to have the support of LEA NSW. Because every young person deserves an environment, and an education, that gives them a real shot.

Read more about the day: https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/insights-and-updates/learning-tour-meriden-senior-school-daca-building/

Marsden Park Anglican College's new Learning Hub is more than a building. Walk through it and the first thing that stops...
09/10/2026

Marsden Park Anglican College's new Learning Hub is more than a building. Walk through it and the first thing that stops you isn't the architecture.

It's how the students have embodied the space, highlighting their own ceramics, paintings and sculpture, on the walls and shelves throughout. A Start in Life joined LEA NSW and ASBA NSW to tour the space and see how good design supports creative learning. Read more about the school - https://www.astartinlife.org.au/about-us/insights-and-updates/learning-tour-meriden-senior-school-daca-building/

08/10/2026

20 students, 20 blank canvases, and one night where every piece could change someone's school year.

Earlier this year, our students spent a day at an art excursion with the freedom to create whatever they dreamt. What they made is bold and honest, and each piece hangs alongside the student's own story, shared with their family's blessing.

"Stories of Resilience" is A Start in Life's first student art exhibition and auction. Every dollar raised goes straight into our education programs, covering the things that hold students back, like an outgrown uniform, an excursion the family can't afford, or a laptop that's out of reach.

🗓 Thursday 19 November, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
📍 Space, 110 Kippax St, Surry Hills
🎟 $78.50 (incl. GST and platform fees)

Tickets via https://shorturl.at/Dl80c

Want your organisation involved on the night? Sponsorship packages are open now, so send us a DM.

For a uni student, a laptop decides whether you can keep up with your course at all.Lectures, readings, assignments and ...
07/10/2026

For a uni student, a laptop decides whether you can keep up with your course at all.

Lectures, readings, assignments and library databases all live online now, so a student without a reliable computer starts every week behind. For Keira, a laptop through A Start in Life meant she could get to her classes and reach the resources her degree depended on.

You can help the next student get the tools they need to stay in study. Tap the link in bio to give 💛

The aim is that twice a year, everyone at VivCourt gets $10,000 to give to any charitable cause they choose.This year, o...
07/10/2026

The aim is that twice a year, everyone at VivCourt gets $10,000 to give to any charitable cause they choose.

This year, one of their team put A Start in Life forward to colleagues. The gift that followed is now covering school fees, uniforms and the cost of staying in class for primary school students who would otherwise go without.

What stood out to us is how it started, with one person willing to make the case to their workplace. Kathleen calls that courage, and we'd love to see more of it. Thank you soo much Vivienne Court Trading!
Read how the gift came together and what it pays for 👇 https://shorturl.at/M1vUU

Where did life take you after A Start in Life?Maybe you're fresh out of uni, a few years into your career, or still work...
06/10/2026

Where did life take you after A Start in Life?

Maybe you're fresh out of uni, a few years into your career, or still working it out. Either way, we'd love to hear the story over a drink.

On Wednesday 14 October we're getting our alumni together at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel for a relaxed evening of catching up. Drop in from 5:30pm, stay as long as you like, and reconnect with familiar faces (and a few new ones). Nibbles are on us, and the bar's open for drinks.

It's free, but please register so we can sort the catering: https://shorturl.at/CsvVl

Know someone who was part of the program? Tag them so they don't miss out.

Annie flew from Canberra to Melbourne in August for one of Australia's leading intelligence conferences, and the whole t...
29/09/2026

Annie flew from Canberra to Melbourne in August for one of Australia's leading intelligence conferences, and the whole trip was covered. ✈️

She was one of six students awarded a 2026 Student Bursary Scholarship by AIPIO, sponsored by Protegas, giving her two days with leaders from intelligence, security and defence, plus a gala dinner to finish.

Thank you to AIPIO and Protegas for backing the next generation. Congratulations, Annie! 💙

For Jai, the court and the classroom have always gone hand in hand. What made the difference was having someone in his c...
23/09/2026

For Jai, the court and the classroom have always gone hand in hand. What made the difference was having someone in his corner for both.

"Without the support I've received, a lot of the opportunities I've been given and the chances I've had to progress in both my academic and sporting life wouldn't have been possible."

Every student deserves the chance to chase their goals, on and off the court. When you support A Start in Life, you help young people like Jai take that next step.

Find out more at astartinlife.org.au 💛

When you're stretching every dollar between school shoes and rent, a small act of support can change everything.Monica i...
17/09/2026

When you're stretching every dollar between school shoes and rent, a small act of support can change everything.

Monica is a single mum raising two kids. This is what she told us about having A Start in Life in her corner. This is what your support does, not another statistic. A mum who gets to breathe a little easier, and two kids who get to walk into school like everyone else. 🎓

14/09/2026

Think an internship is just coffee runs and filing? Think again.

Noha is spending their time with A Start in Life, and it's teaching us something: some of the best gifts you can give aren't measured in dollars. They're measured in hours, energy and showing up for students who need it most.

Interns like Noha are in the mix at our events, behind the scenes on our programs, the data and research that backs what we do... and part of the reason our students get to dream bigger. 🎓

Turns out, giving back doesn't need a bank account. It just needs you.

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when A Start in Life posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share