The Foundation’s mission is to bridge the long-term societal gap of opportunity for girls within the public-school system who are experiencing financial disadvantage. Across Australia, public schools have a disproportionate share of the poorest families but also of children who are most educationally disadvantaged. Women within Australia are two and a half times more likely to live in poverty in their old age than men. The UN Girls Education Initiative has stated that “Girl’s education is critical in terms of what it can achieve in raising families out of poverty and accelerating economic development for the community. It has a multiplier effect like no other.” The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship Program provides the tools and support to lift the educational achievements and career aspirations of high potential girls who are facing disadvantage. The HMEF offers the most generous scholarship to public high school students in Australia, but we don’t write cheques and hope for the best. We work with the girls and their families over four years with a multi-layered support system ensuring they make the most of the scholarship. We provide a personal infrastructure enabling them to navigate their own pathway towards tertiary education, a fulfilling career and a purposeful future. Each scholarship is valued at $20,000 over four years and provides critical resources and support to enable our scholars to excel and reach their potential. We support the public-school system and the communities they are in by supporting high potential girls to excel while they stay at their public school, stay with their families and stay in their communities. We support girls in public education because we know that this investment returns more to their families, our community and Australian society.