NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts) offers a range of scholarships to support students to attend NIDA, helping to cover student living expenses. NIDA is committed to building a diverse community of students and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), and people with a disability. The ARA Group supports NIDA each year by assisting their Indigenous students with three scholarships.
The ARA First Nations Foundations is a 10-week sporting program which aims to increase participation and involvement of First Nations People right across our game, from playing to coaching and administration, as well as identifying those with the physical capabilities and character to become high-performing athletes. Following last year’s program, 21 First Nation’s athletes were selected to advance to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy. ARA is committed to supporting the ARA First Nations Foundations for the next two years.
The David Lynch Foundation helps to prevent and eradicate the all-pervasive epidemic of trauma and toxic stress among at-risk populations through promoting widespread implementation of the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation program to improve their health, cognitive capabilities and performance in life. The ARA Endowment Fund continues to support the David Lynch Foundation each year assisting with their many projects such as Heal the Healers, 1000 Women Domestic Violence Recovery Project, and Defence and Veterans PTSD Resilience and Recovery.
This year the Indigenous Literacy Foundation celebrates 14 years as a Foundation. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is about publishing books in first languages and providing books and access to books that are culturally relevant and which reflect the lives and culture of the kids’ reading. The ARA Endowment Fund helps the Indigenous Literacy Foundation each year to achieve their milestones and achieve the shared goal and vision for our First Nations’ children.
The GO Foundation offers scholarships to young Indigenous people and provides support throughout their education, from school to university and then into the work force. The ARA Endowment Fund continues to assist with the GO Foundation’s programs, which help ensure the young GO Students have all the resources and tools they need for their studies.
The Gadigal Centre is the University of Sydney’s dedicated student centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Community plays an important role in our culture, and this bespoke space is a home away from home. It is a place to connect with culture, interact with Elders, fellow students, and feel supported by our staff. The ARA Group is supporting Sydney University by committing to funding for the next 6 years to establish scholarships to be awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students undertaking undergraduate studies at the University within the areas of Science, Engineering and the School of Architecture and Design and Planning.
The ARA Group acknowledges the connection of people, land and communities within the areas that we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
We seek to maintain meaningful partnerships by undertaking the appropriate engagement practices within our business and for our communities. We know the importance of respecting, understanding and sharing the oldest living cultures in the world.