Yalari, a non-profit organisation which began in 2005, also has another 380 alumni pursuing careers and living up to its objective of helping to encourage leadership among First Nations Australians.

The brainchild of educationalist Waverley Stanley, who was helped by an astute teacher who saw the potential of the Murgon State School captain to become Toowoomba Grammar’s first Indigenous student to complete year 12, Yalari provides scholarships for students across the country.

The organisation, whose name means “child” in Stanley’s Birri Gubba language, is supported by a mix of government funds, corporate sponsorhsip and philanthropic donations.

Yalari founder Waverley Stanley with a group of the organisations students at a camp at Uluru.

Boasting a student retention rate of nearly 93 per cent, yalari has weathered the challenged of the Covid-19 pandemic to stick to its philosophy of generational change through education.

The organisation has 47 corporate partnerships, gaining support from the likes of Gadens, Herbert Smith Freehills, the Bar Association of Queensland, Deloitte and McCullough Robertson.

Partner schools include The Southport School, St Margaret’s, John Paul College and Churchie.