Huntington's AustraliaScholarship

Scholarship

Ailsa’s Legacy

Ailsa’s Legacy has been created in memory of Alisa to help young people impacted by HD on their journey towards everything an education can bring.

Ailsa’s Legacy Youth Education Scholarship

Ailsa’s Legacy is a scholarship program designed to support young people impacted by Huntington’s disease (HD) in pursuing their education. Each year, successful applicants receive financial assistance of up to $2,000 to help them start, continue, or return to their studies.

This scholarship is open to residents of New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) only.

Recipients can use the scholarship funds in a variety of ways to support their education or training, including:

  • School or course fees
  • Uniforms and shoes
  • Learning materials, computers, and software
  • School excursions, camps, or trips
  • Transport and accommodation for study
  • Extra tuition or tutoring
  • Extracurricular activities like music or sports
  • Sports uniforms and equipment

Alisa’s Legacy aims to ease financial barriers and empower young people in NSW and ACT to achieve their educational goals despite the challenges of HD.

If you can answer yes to the following 4 questions, you are eligible to apply.

  • Are you 25 or under?
  • Are you enrolled in school, university, TAFE (or another educational institution) or planning to be next year?
  • Are you living with an HD impacted parent or carer (or have previously done so)?
  • Do you live in NSW or the ACT?

We encourage as many children and young people as possible to apply. We understand how important it is to stay engaged in education, but also know how challenging this can be when there is a lot more going on at home such as taking on extra responsibilities, stretched finances, and often less time to study and prepare, as can often be the case when a parent or carer is affected by HD.

Learn more about the scholarship through our Q&A document here.

Applications are now being accepted – apply now.

This scholarship is available only to residents of New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

We encourage all eligible applicants to apply early.

Ailsa Gordon

Teacher, Psychologist, HD Family Member & Education Advocate

Ailsa Gordon was a passionate educator who believed in the power of learning to transform lives. As a teacher, she helped children see beyond their challenges and embrace their potential. Having grown up in a family affected by Huntington’s disease, she understood the struggles of staying engaged in education while facing HD’s impact.

Ailsa’s compassion, creativity, and resilience continue to inspire. In her memory, a generous benefactor who knew and loved her has funded the HD Youth Education Scholarship—a tribute to her unwavering commitment to young people and her belief in the life-changing opportunities education provides.