Recently, an Oxford alumnus, Tim Sims, and his wife Sally, generously agreed to fund the cost of sending two Charlie Perkins Scholarship applicants to spend a week at Oxford and Cambridge universities. Over 40 students applied.
The Trust was initially set up to assist Indigenous children in the following areas:
improving the health of Indigenous children
educating and training Indigenous children
researching into improving the status of Indigenous children
addressing the welfare of Indigenous children
making donations to cultural organisations that promote issues relevant
to Indigenous children.
In recent years, the Trust has assisted with or facilitated the funding of:
a dialysis unit in Kintore in the Northern Territory
swimming pools in Kintore and Maningrida in the Northern Territory
prizes for Indigenous students at Sydney University and an annual oration
since 2001
In October 2008, the Trust’s purposes were expanded to include the education of students as well as children and the Trust was renamed the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children & Students. In 2010, the Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust was formed to administer the Charlie Perkins Scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Current Activities
Charlie Perkins Scholarships - In 2009, with the assistance of the University of Oxford, the Charlie Perkins Trust established two annual Charlie Perkins Scholarships for Australian Indigenous students to study at the University of Oxford from 2010. From 2011, the scholarships will also be open for study at the University of Cambridge. Find out more about the Charlie Perkins Scholarships.
The Indigenous students’ guide to postgraduate scholarships in Australia and overseas - The Trust, working jointly with the Aurora Project, published in late 2009 the Indigenous students’ guide to postgraduate scholarships in Australia and overseas, which includes over 120 postgraduate scholarships across all disciplines. Find out more about the Indigenous Students' Guide.
The 'Tooth Mob' - The Trust, working with Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, the Northern Territory Government and the Remote Area Health Corps, has established a volunteer dental program to deliver regular dental services, including both acute and preventative dental care and ongoing oral health programs, to Indigenous communities east of Katherine in the Northern Territory. If you would like to find out more about the Tooth Mob program, or wish to become involved as a volunteer dentist or dental assistant, please contact us.
Watch this short video of Charles Perkins's life and achievements. (Duration: 4:21)
