QATSIF graduates of 2024, Tiah Kalaja, left, and Bronson Malezer, right, attest to the impact of QATSIF’s support. Credit: QPT/Peter Wallis
At QPT, we’re proud to support initiatives that help Queenslanders thrive at all stages of life. The outstanding achievements stemming from the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF) – a charitable trust managed by QPT – are making a huge difference to the lives of thousands of young Queenslanders.
Supporting educational opportunities
QATSIF was launched in 2008 as an independent charitable trust with a mission to support the education of First Nations young people.
It provides scholarships to students from Queensland state, independent and Catholic schools. Each recipient receives $500 a semester – up to $2,000 over two years – to help cover curriculum-related costs such as uniforms, books and equipment, excursions, additional training and more during Year 11 and 12.
Since its establishment in 2008, more than 21,300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across 465+ schools have received QATSIF scholarships.
QATSIF shines at prestigious state-wide awards
Recently, QATSIF scholarship recipient Amanda Martin was named the 7NEWS 2025 Queensland Young Achiever of the Year, making her the third trust recipient to win this prestigious state-wide accolade.
Amanda also won the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Achievement Award, while fellow QATSIF scholarship recipient Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw received the Contribution to Community or Family Safety Award for First Nations. A further seven QATSIF trust recipients were named as finalists across four award categories.
These remarkable achievements underscore the impact of QATSIF’s scholarship program in empowering young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders during their senior years of education. They also highlight the critical role QPT plays in managing charitable trusts with thoughtful and strategic foresight.
Stewardship that delivers lasting impact
QATSIF scholarships are funded by the income earned on the foundation’s capital, which since 2008 has grown from $28.5 million to more than $47 million, thanks to donations, Queensland Government support and a savvy investment strategy.
QATSIF’s funds are held in a charitable trust administered by QPT and invested with advice from the Queensland Investment Corporation. Through careful stewardship by QPT, QATSIF has been able to expand the number of scholarships provided to eligible students.
In 2021, QPT introduced a new investment strategy for its charitable trusts to ensure more sustainable and successful outcomes. This included the creation of the Australian Foundation for Charitable Trusts Fund, aimed at achieving strong, long-term returns.
Between 2020 to 2024, this strategy succeeded in growing the net assets of the QATSIF Trust from $41.6M to $46.9M, while distributing $11.43M in grants to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.
Results speak for themselves
By fostering talent and bridging opportunities, QATSIF continues to play a pivotal role in advancing equity and inclusion, paving the way for success stories like Amanda’s and Jarib’s to continue inspiring future generations.
In 2023, 95.3 per cent of QATSIF scholarship students graduated from Year 12. This is compared to the 87.9 per cent graduation rate for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students (including both QATSIF scholarship recipients and non-recipients) and closely aligning with the 95.8 percent graduation rate for all other Queensland students. These outcomes reflect the strength of QATSIF’s student-first approach and its partnerships with schools across the state.
Promoting the positive achievements of young people
The 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards not only celebrate individual talent but also shine a spotlight on the incredible impact of a charitable trust that is helping transform educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across Queensland. QATSIF’s continued success at these awards demonstrates that when given the opportunity, young people can achieve extraordinary things.
Learn more about how QPT supports charitable trusts.