Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship
A Dare to Dream Scholarship can help you reach your goals
We believe that cancer shouldn’t get in the way of achieving your goals.
Since 2013, Coles has partnered with Redkite to support children and young people affected by cancer and their families. During the last nine years, Coles has raised over $45 million to help thousands of Redkite families, enabling essential practical, financial, emotional, and mental health support to be provided during their cancer experience.
The Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship was established to inspire teenagers affected by cancer to achieve their goals and ambitions. This scholarship, funded by Coles, helps teenagers build their future. The possibilities that the Dare to Dream Scholarship creates for young Australians are life-changing.
Together, Redkite and Coles have awarded 336 scholarships since 2013 worth over $700,000.
Who can apply?
The Dare to Dream Scholarship is open to any teenager (13-18 years old) in Australia who has cancer or has had cancer at any point in their life.
What can the scholarship be used for?
Teens can receive up to $5,000 to help them achieve a goal.
Tools and courses to develop creativity
Music, audio, and visual equipment
Computers and software
Building fitness, sport or dance skills
Tutors for big exams or school catch up
Courses, coaching, classes, or university
Pursuing a personal interest or social justice causes
Accessibility equipment
…and more!
A Dare to Dream Scholarship has given me a newfound confidence in both myself and also my attitude towards life. I struggled a lot emotionally through my experience with cancer and this scholarship will really help me to do what I love.
Past recipients
Stories from inspiring young people who Dared to Dream
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of 15, Samuel faced two gruelling years of treatment where he missed important schooling, sport, and time with his friends. Despite these challenges, the determined teenager graduated year 12 with an ATAR that gained him entry into a Bachelor of Medical Science at Macquarie University.
2021 saw Samuel face more personal challenges. He had a hip replacement, which forced him to miss out on university, and he lost his dad suddenly, who was one of his biggest supports.
“Despite the challenges in my life, I am more determined than ever to achieve my goal and make my dad proud. Helping others is something I’ve always known I wanted to do and, having experienced cancer, I would love to help people who are in a similar situation as I could relate to them.”
Joshua was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left leg when he was 12 years old. At the time of his diagnosis he had been playing piano for eight years and continued to play through two relapses: one in November 2018, when the tumour moved to his right lung, and one in August 2019, when the tumour moved to his spine.
“Cancer has, undoubtedly, prevented me from reaching my full potential in music. Due to all my surgeries, my movement has been quite limited, and piano is one of the only remaining things that I enjoy that I can still do. I also really like the sound of the piano,” Joshua said.
With his scholarship, Joshua upgraded his piano so he could continue to improve his skills. When asked about how the piano would change his life, he said, “The piano that I have now is over half a century old and the sustain pedal (right pedal) doesn’t work anymore. With this [upgraded] piano, I will be able to fully express myself and play more challenging pieces.” Joshua, now 18, is currently studying at university and dreams of one day becoming a professional pianist and composer.
Thomas was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2020. “Throughout my nine months of treatment, I’ve had very little energy and I’ve been in a lot of pain. I’ve had to isolate, not only because of COVID-19, but mainly due to my low blood counts. Cancer has also caused me to lose a lot of my strength and endurance,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ dream is to one day become a firefighter for Fire and Rescue New South Wales, a dream that comes from his father, who served as a volunteer firefighter for the NSW Rural Fire Service and passed away from lymphoma when Thomas was just nine years old.
Now off-treatment, but still undergoing regular check-ups, Thomas said that the $5,000 scholarship will help him complete the physical and emotional prerequisites he needs to join Fire and Rescue NSW and improve his overall happiness. Since receiving his scholarship, Thomas, now 18, has continued with his studies, gained his drivers license, been going to the gym five days a week and is feeling a lot fitter and healthier.
Teah, who was diagnosed with medullabastoma when she was just two years old, is passionate about photography, especially taking snaps of pets. When Teah was diagnosed, she felt constantly angry as she believed most of her childhood was taken away because of cancer.
“It really sucked because of all the side effects from having cancer reminded me every day that I had cancer – I was still ‘The Cancer Kid’. I got over it and I’m now on the road to doing something that I love. Finding out that I’d won a Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship made my year. It has given my confidence a massive boost and it’s encouraged me to apply for the TAFE course I’m interested in and to purchase the new laptop that I want. It will make the whole process of editing and uploading pet photos so much easier,” Teah said.
When James was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when he was 12 years old, he was subjected to more than 30 rounds of chemotherapy, scans, multiple surgeries, and constant doctors’ appointments.
During treatment, James began to think about what it would be like to see the world from a different perspective – from thousands of feet in the air. In 2016, James was able to fly high above the clouds in a P51 Mustang, which began his dream of becoming a pilot.
Since turning 15, James has worked casual jobs while in school to help pay for his flying lessons, working for McDonald’s and more recently, Coles. His Dare to Dream Scholarship helped him cover significant costs for his lessons. James, now 18 and in remission, is living life to its fullest and studying hard at university with one goal in mind: to become a pilot.
How to apply
You will be able to apply through a link on this page when applications open again in 2023. Here is the information we ask you to submit.
Please make sure to read all of the questions carefully and refer to the FAQs for more information.
Applications open again in 2023!
Keen to apply in 2023? That’s great!
Sign up below and we will be in touch when applications open again.
Frequently asked questions
The below FAQs cover what you should do before you apply, your application, our requirements, and what happens if you receive a scholarship.
If you have any questions that aren’t covered, please contact us at 1800 733 548 or scholarships@redkite.org.au.
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