Frequently Asked Questions

The Daylesford Foundation is Hepburn Shire’s only community foundation. Jim and Norma Foster founded it in 2018 to support young people across the Shire, with a focus on education and opportunity. Read our story.

Yes. The Daylesford Foundation is the community foundation for Hepburn Shire, supporting young people in Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Creswick, Clunes, Trentham and the towns in between. Every dollar stays local.

Our support falls under three pillars: Student Support through local schools, including literacy programs and breakfast programs; Scholarships for university, TAFE and apprenticeships; and Local Impact, delivered with community partners across the Shire. See our three pillars.

Since 2018, The Daylesford Foundation has provided over 10,000 instances of support and distributed over $1.2 million to young people and families across Hepburn Shire. Our Annual Reports show where the money goes each year.

MacqLit is an evidence-based reading program for older primary and secondary students who are still finding reading difficult. Students work in small groups on phonics, fluency and comprehension. It was developed by MultiLit, which grew out of research at Macquarie University.

The Daylesford Foundation funds MacqLit in Hepburn Shire schools. Read about our literacy program.

MiniLit is a small-group early reading program, also from MultiLit, for younger students in the first years of school who need extra help learning to read. The Foundation helps local schools run it by funding staff time.

We fund MultiLit reading programs, including MiniLit for younger students and MacqLit for older students, so children who are falling behind get targeted help early. All Hepburn Shire schools are eligible for funding. See our Schools program.

Our support reaches young people through local schools, scholarships and community partners. Schools tell us where help is needed and the Foundation funds it directly through the school. If you’re a student or a parent, your school’s wellbeing team can tell you what support is available.

Yes. We offer scholarships to help young people from Hepburn Shire take up university, TAFE and apprenticeships, including through YouThrive Victoria’s Rural Chances program. Visit our Scholarships page for details.

The Daylesford Foundation funds scholarships in partnership with YouThrive Victoria, which manages applications and provides mentoring and leadership support. The Rural Chances Scholarship is a one-off $5,000 payment to help with course costs for TAFE (Certificate III or above) or an apprenticeship.

It is open to young people aged 16 to 24 in regional or rural Victoria, including Hepburn Shire, who hold a Health Care Card or can show financial hardship. Applications open once a year through YouThrive. Our Scholarships page has the current dates.

The University Scholarship is funded by The Daylesford Foundation and delivered with YouThrive Victoria. It includes:

• up to $10,000 a year for up to three years
• mentoring, support and leadership development
• a network of past recipients across regional Victoria

It is for Year 12 students starting full-time study at a Victorian university who show leadership potential and a commitment to their rural or regional community. Applications open once a year and usually close in August. Each year we also fund two University Scholarships and two Rural Chances Scholarships for eligible Daylesford Secondary College students. See our Scholarships page for details.

Sometimes. We look at each request case by case, and when the Foundation has budget available we can support further applicants, including young people who don’t meet YouThrive’s criteria or whose YouThrive application wasn’t successful.

If you live or go to school in Hepburn Shire and need help with university, TAFE or an apprenticeship, it’s worth filling in the enquiry form on our Scholarships page.

If you’re in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency. Young people aged 5 to 25 can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, free and 24/7. For money worries, the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 offers free financial counselling.

Yes. The Daylesford Foundation (ABN 65 774 996 793) is a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, so donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible in Australia. Online donations receive a tax receipt by email.

Our founders personally cover the Foundation’s running costs, so your gift goes to supporting young people in Hepburn Shire, not to administration. Donate now.

The Forever Fund is our long-term endowment, held with Australian Communities Foundation. Gifts are invested and the returns fund support every year, so they keep giving long into the future. Our goal is to grow it to $5 million by 2030. Read more about the Forever Fund.

Yes. A gift in your will is one of the most lasting ways to support young people in Hepburn Shire. Visit Leave a gift in your will to find out more.

Yes. You can set up a regular gift on our Donate page and change or cancel it at any time.

We work with schools and local organisations across Hepburn Shire. If your organisation shares our focus on young people, contact us and choose “Partnering with us”.

Join our newsletter for stories from local schools and young people a few times a year, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.