A $5,000 sponsorship from Aurizon through its Community Giving Fund is enabling Mentor Support Network (MSN) to achieve its goals for 2023.
MSN provides educational scholarships for financially disadvantaged high school students entering Year 11 or vocational students entering the final years of their technical training.
MSN Chair, Judy Hart, said it was the assistance of companies such as Aurizon that enabled the organisation to deliver services through its 2023 Educational Scholarship Program.
“The grant from Aurizon is a massive boost for our not-for-profit organisation which operates in the Hunter Region,” said Judy.
“MSN has run the successful scholarship program since 2008 and Aurizon’s support through its Community Giving Fund is helping us to provide a total of 42 scholarships this year.”
“The scholarships have gone to local high school and vocational students who are exceptional young people facing significant socio-economic and/or family challenges. Without financial assistance and support, these students would find completing their education to be an enormous challenge – and achieving their potential in the workforce and society a great barrier.
“Aurizon is helping MSN assist disadvantaged students stay in school or in studies – the benefit not only being to the students, but to our community in general.”
Students will use their scholarships to purchase uniforms, books, home study equipment, computers, software and internet access as well as paying for excursions and fees.
MSN is planning a major ceremony in May to present the 2023 educational scholarship certificates to the group of 42 students.
Aurizon is a key supply chain partner for the Hunter’s regional economy supporting a range of customers and industries. Aurizon operates a mineral concentrate train receival, product storage and shiploading facility at the Port of Newcastle. Aurizon Port Services Newcastle offers a range of services in exporting concentrates together with an expert understanding of transport logistics.
Aurizon has also been servicing coal producers in the Hunter Valley region since 2005. Aurizon has invested more than $500 million in the region and now provides rail haulage for around one quarter of the Hunter Valley coal export market.
Through its Community Giving Fund, Aurizon is committed to supporting organisations that focus on the broad areas of health and wellbeing, community safety, environment and education in the regions of its operations and in which its employees reside.