I am excited to champion the launch of The Honourable Michael Kirby Empowerment Scholarship, an initiative designed to uplift and support LGBTQIA+ students on their academic and personal journeys.
Research conducted in 2024 by myself and Professor Suzanne McLaren through the Australian Regional Rainbow Survey confirms that LGBTQIA+ people living in rural areas experience significantly higher levels of discrimination and lower feelings of belonging compared to their metropolitan counterparts.
Developed in partnership between the Charles Sturt Foundation and the Charles Sturt University Ally Network that I Chair, the scholarship is designed to support LGBTQIA+ students in overcoming barriers and achieving their full academic and personal potential.
To mark National Coming Out Day in October 2025, we launched the scholarship with an interview with The Hon. Dr. Michael Kirby about his coming out journey. We raised $4,925 on the day which will go towards providing a scholarship next year.
You can watch a recording of the event here.
Clifford Lewis 