The Australian National University (ANU) is proud to announce the fulfilment of a $50 million Kambri Scholars Program endowment to provide life-changing support for Indigenous students, thanks to a landmark donation to the University.
The $50 million endowment was achieved after a recent $16.33 million donation from Claire and Charles Gibbon through the Gibbon Foundation.
This extraordinary gift brings the total donations to the Kambri Scholars Program to $25 million - matched dollar for dollar by ANU to ensure the long-term future of the program and provide the next generation of Indigenous leaders with access to a world-class university education.
The ANU Kambri Scholars Program, which welcomed its first cohort in 2020, provides financial, academic and pastoral support through scholarships awarded to Indigenous students at ANU each year.
Aunty Anne Martin, Director of the ANU Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre and Professor in the Practice of Indigenous Advancement, said reaching the fundraising goal will ensure support for Indigenous students at ANU in perpetuity.
"This is about empowering the next generation of leaders. It is a powerful affirmation of all that we have worked so hard to achieve in opening the doors of ANU to Indigenous students from every corner of the country and ensuring those doors remain open for generations to come," Professor Martin said.
"The support of our donors is a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible when people believe deeply in the potential of others."
ANU has awarded funding to 82 Kambri Scholars since its inception. Among them is Faith Stevens, a 2022 recipient from Galiwin'ku off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
"Having a scholarship has changed my life," Ms Stevens said.
"It's allowed me to come down here to try and do better, for me and my community, and for other Indigenous communities too."
Claire Gibbon said she is delighted to see the impact the program has on the lives of Indigenous students.
"The Tjabal Centre's ability to scale, as well as the program's long-term structure, and inspiring leadership by Professor Anne Martin and her team strongly align with our Foundation's values and objectives," she said.
"Conversations with Kambri Scholars further highlighted the importance of supporting their education at ANU. We feel privileged to be associated with the Centre and ANU."
ANU Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rebekah Brown thanked all those who have donated to the Kambri Scholars Program for their generosity.
"Building on a history of significant community effort since 2020, the Gibbon Foundation has now made this incredible donation that secures the ongoing and long-term support of the program," she said.
"The Gibbon Foundation's generosity, joined by the many others who have donated over the past five years, is helping to drive real change in Indigenous education. Every student who comes through the Kambri Scholars Program brings knowledge and perspective that Australia needs. This endowment is an investment in their voices and in a more inclusive future for our country."
The recent donation follows a $5 million contribution from the Kambri Scholars Program Inaugural Corporate Partner, Wesfarmers Limited, in 2024.
Learn more about the Kambri Scholars Program: https://www.anu.edu.au/giving/kambri-scholars
