Make a referral

How to refer a student

Know a student who might need extra help at school, uni or TAFE? Many young people face barriers to their education, and a simple referral can help them access life-changing support.

Educators, social workers, community members, family and friends can all help connect a student with A Start in Life.

Who can refer?

Anyone who notices a student who needs a hand

If you know a student or family who might need extra help, you're welcome to refer them to us. You don't need to know their full situation. Just point them our way and we'll take it from there.

A student may benefit if they:

  • Are experiencing financial difficulty
  • Struggle to cover school or study costs like uniforms, textbooks, excursions or fees
  • Show motivation and potential, but face obstacles that make it harder to succeed

Not sure? That's completely okay. We don't expect you to know all the details. Simply encourage them to contact us or apply online.

Apply for Support
Students at school Starting the conversation

How to approach a family or student

You can keep it simple. Try something like:

A Start in Life is a charity that helps students and families doing it tough with practical support, so they can thrive at school, university or TAFE. It might be worth getting in touch to see if they can help.

Encourage them to contact us directly. All conversations are confidential and there's no obligation.

Next steps

Referring a student is easy

  1. Share our details with the student or their family.
  2. Let them know they can learn more and apply online, or call us on (02) 9264 3017.
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Resources

Ways to help a student in need

Download what you need, share it where it counts, and reach out any time.

Info Poster

Put it around your school, or anywhere it could help a student in need.

Download

Brochure

Print our brochure and pop it in a bag, or use it to start a conversation.

Download

Teacher Resources

Reach out if you have any questions, or need anything else to help.

Contact us