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Babcock Australasia is celebrating a decade-long partnership with Yalari, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving educational outcomes for First Nations students through senior boarding school scholarships.
The Yalari program provides life-changing opportunities for students from regional, rural and remote communities – areas where access to quality education can be limited by subject availability, teacher shortages and small class sizes.
These students also often face additional hurdles, such as long travel distances, fewer extracurricular options and limited exposure to diverse learning experiences.
With Babcock’s continued support over the past 10 years, Yalari has worked to close these gaps by offering students greater access to resources, specialised academic programs and a strong support network.
Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said the partnership reflects the power of a shared vision, “Babcock’s partnership with Yalari highlights how a common purpose can drive real and lasting change. Watching these young people grow into future leaders through their education – and knowing we’ve contributed in some small way to that journey – is incredibly rewarding.”
Waverley Stanley AM, Yalari founding director, said the partnership embodied the organisation’s ethos, adding, “At Yalari, we believe it takes a whole community to educate a child, and our 10-year partnership with Babcock is a true reflection of that.
“Babcock’s long-standing commitment to education and supporting young Indigenous Australians has been invaluable. Together, we’re helping empower the next generation of Indigenous leaders and creating lasting impact for families and communities across the country.”
One of those empowered leaders is Seferina Whap, a Torres Strait Islander and Yalari alumna who graduated from The Glennie School in Toowoomba in 2022.
“Yalari opened more doors for my future than I ever could have imagined,” she said.
“Coming from Thursday Island to a boarding school in Toowoomba was a massive leap, but Yalari gave me the support and courage to thrive. It helped me grow in ways I never expected – academically, personally and culturally. I’ve become a role model for my family and community, and it’s inspired me to dream bigger and reach my full potential.”
Babcock also plays a direct role in the Torres Strait community, operating the region’s emergency medical service helicopters in partnership with Queensland Health. The service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In 2025, Yalari is supporting 251 students across Australia on scholarships, with nearly 600 alumni now studying at university, employed or undertaking further training.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
