Generous $2.8m gift from Dawn Wade Foundation breaks down barriers to tertiary education for Geelong and regional students
Media release
A new scholarship created by the Dawn Wade Foundation and offered through Deakin University is set to open up the world of tertiary education to Geelong and regional high school students who are experiencing barriers to further study, including those who are the first in their family to attend University.
The $2.8 million gift from Darrell and Anna Wade through the Dawn Wade Foundation will enable the largest equity scholarships ever offered by the University, supporting 30 students over the next four years and valued at up to $26,800 per year per student.
The Dawn Wade Foundation Scholarships will be on offer for the first time in 2026 providing transformative support to recipient students choosing to complete a full-time undergraduate degree at Deakin's Waurn Ponds or Waterfront campuses, covering essential costs including accommodation, wellbeing and other living expenses.
The family foundation was established in 1985 by Dawn Wade who started a family and several businesses in Geelong. Dawn felt it was important to give back to the place that had given her and her husband John so much. Dawn's son Darrell and wife Anna have continued the family legacy, broadening the Foundation’s focus on Geelong to include education.
'This particular gift to Deakin recognises that there are many families in Geelong that for various reasons have difficulty accessing tertiary education, especially recent migrant families and the disadvantaged,' said Darrell Wade, Director, Dawn Wade Foundation.
'Education remains the key to enable people to live better lives, so equitable access to tertiary education is an absolute game changer for many people. The scholarships for first-in-family access to university will not only change the recipients' lives and their families but also contribute to the development of the Geelong region and Australia more broadly.
'More than anything else, education is the intergenerational game changer - so it is critical that quality education like Deakin is available to as many people as possible.'
Drawing on the Foundation's legacy of nearly 40 years of philanthropic support, the scholarship program aligns with the organisation's commitment to enhancing access to education, helping recipients transition to university and supporting their academic and personal success throughout their studies and beyond.
'Being the first person in your family to go to University can often make it seem out of reach, but gifts like this one can make that goal a reality for students who would not have been able to attend otherwise,' said Deakin Vice Chancellor Professor Iain Martin.
'The Dawn Wade Foundation and Deakin share the belief that personal circumstances should not limit someone's potential, and by opening doors to further education we can not only change the lives of the individuals but create intergenerational change, bridge widening social gaps and build better communities.
'Through the Dawn Wade Foundation, the Wade family have been making positive impact and change, particularly to the local Geelong community, for many years and these Scholarships will be life-changing for students in our region.'
Testament to Deakin's 50 years of leadership in providing equitable education, the university is ranked as the number one university for student support, including access to financial support through scholarships.
The announcement of the Dawn Wade Scholarship further adds to the university's commitment of ensuring students from all backgrounds can not only access but succeed in their education, following the recently announced Deakin 50th Anniversary Excellence Scholarships that will offer support to 50 students from underrepresented high schools to attend Deakin.
The Dawn Wade scholarship is open to students who live within the City of Greater Geelong or are relocating from a rural or regional location with further information including full eligibility criteria available at Dawn Wade Foundation Scholarship | Deakin.
