Applications have now opened for Grow A Star’s Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation youth scholarships.

A total of 25, $2000 scholarships are available for young people aged between 15 and 18 from the NSW Central West, Upper Hunter and mid-North Coast regions who live in, or are eligible for, community housing.

Grow A Star spokesperson Martin Kennedy said the scholarships were to help with educational or sporting equipment and fees. 

In addition to funding, recipients get mentoring support from the Grow A Star co-ordinator to help them to set and stay focussed on their goals.

He said many talented kids in community housing miss out on realising their potential or dreams because their parents simply can’t afford lessons, training or equipment.

“The scholarships will help young people to be stars in the classroom or the sporting arena,” Mr Kennedy explained.

“Many of our scholarship recipients have been able to play representative sport, participate in extra-curricular activities or buy that laptop that helps to get assignments done.

“Grow A Star helps young people to do well in school to enhance their employment prospects and their ability to participate fully in the community.

“We aim to build self-esteem, improve well-being and to break generational cycle of vulnerability and disadvantage, which benefits the whole community.”

Since its launch in 2012, Grow A Star has assisted 288 young people to pursue their academic, sporting or artistic goals. 

There are currently 49 young people in the program. 

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation has previously provided funding for 20 of those scholarships.

Grow A Star is an initiative of the NSW-based, not for profit, community housing provider Compass Housing. 

Compass uses its own resources and sponsorships and donations from other individuals and organisations to offer the program to all community housing tenants, not just its own.

To apply or find out more, visit www.compasshousing.org/community-programs/grow-star

GROW a Star funding opened a number of doors and brought an unexpected opportunity for an aspiring netballer.

Krystal Dallinger (pictured) had not long relocated to Newcastle from her home town of Dubbo when she became a recipient of Compass Housing’s Grow a Star program.

The now 17-year-old Hunter Sports High student says she and her mum had to leave a lot behind when they came to live with her grandmother.

A keen netballer, Krystal was identified for the Hunter Academy of Sport’s program.

“The Grow a Star funding was big for my mum and I,” she Krystal said.

“It allowed me to put myself out there to develop my netball skills through the Academy and then [Australian netballer] Sam Poolman’s Aspire program.”

Krystal said both the Academy and Aspire helped with all aspects of her netball game but the most valuable benefit was the boost to her confidence. She said having people believe in you boosts confidence. 

Grow a Star coordinator Shane Marshall was a big supporter and there for her “at the drop of a hat”.

Krystal is an indigenous woman from the Gamilaroi Nation. 

She and her mum Carolyn gave Sam a hat, with indigenous designs, as a thank you at the end of the Aspire Program. 

Krystal said Sam, who is also goal keeper of the GWS Giants, was knocked off her feet by the gesture and the design.

Later, Sam surprised Krystal at school to offer her the chance to design the club’s dress for the indigenous round match against the Sydney Swifts, and meet the Giants’ team members.

“I never thought in a million years I’d be able to do something this amazing for the Giants and for NAIDOC,” Krystal said.

Mindful of the opportunity Grow a Star gave her, Krystal has given back to other young netballers. 

This year she raised $2000 for the Confident Girls Foundation by gaining sponsors to donate a dollar for every goal she scored in the month of June. 

The foundation provides shoes and dresses to girls in regional Australia to help them play netball. 

Asked why she likes netball, Krystal says it is a great way of having fun and being active.

Last year Krystal gained a place as a shooter in the Hunter United Diamonds that plays in the Sydney competition. 

In 2019, she will play for the Central Coast Heart.

She said she would love to one day wear the national team’s uniform but she is focused on setting and achieving small goals, one by one.

“I will see where netball takes me.”