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Scholarships

Newcastle Waldorf School is pleased to offer our scholarship program to the wider community, creating an environment where gifted and passionate young students can excel. Our scholarships aim to support students, enriching their educational experiences by providing access to our diverse artistic and cultural legacy. Students will be encouraged to cultivate their unique abilities in a supportive, motivating, and integrated Waldorf environment.

Newcastle Waldorf School offers three scholarships to assist students to achieve their educational goals. Successful scholarship recipients are expected to demonstrate and uphold the core values of the school. Scholarships will be awarded following receipt of the applicable application form, an interview with the parent or guardian, student and Principal, and a decision by the Newcastle Waldorf School Scholarship Committee considering:

  • The applicant’s commitment to the eligibility criteria described in the application
  • Commitment of the family to support the student, and to abide by the School’s enrolment expectations; and
  • A willingness of the student to contribute to their own learning and the School community.

Our current suite of scholarships are intended for students entering High School (Year 7 – Year 12).

Waldorf Arts and Music Scholarship

This scholarship was created to help foster a student’s important life skills of creativity, innovation, and self-expression.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant is an Australian Citizen
  • Applicant to demonstrate consistent exemplary artistic contributions and positive behaviour. School reports from the last two (2) academic years must be provided to support this criteria.
  • Applicant to demonstrate a significant level of commitment to activities involving creative writing, visual arts, music, or design and technology.
  • Applicant demonstrates alignment with the core values and expectations of Newcastle Waldorf School throughout the assessment process.
  • This scholarship is granted on artistic and academic merit and demonstrated financial need. It is a means-tested scholarship.

First Nations Muloobinba Minamba Award

Newcastle Waldorf School (Muloobinba Waldorf Minamba) is proud to offer the First Nations Muloobinba Minamba Award to support students identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders to become future leaders within their class and the wider school community. The First Nations Muloobinba Minamba Award holder will be invited to participate in leading school events, with an aim to establish a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s way of being, knowing, thinking, and doing.

The cultural compatibility of Waldorf methodology (story, nature, and arts-based curriculum) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions creates a mutual enrichment of the educational experience. We acknowledge that we meet and work on the Country of the Awaba people which is home to many First Nations communities. We seek to further strengthen our connections with First Nations communities as we build future capacities with our young people.

This Award is for new students residing in the Newcastle or Lake Macquarie area, who have demonstrated a deep connection and dedication to their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Our school offers this Award in addition to the fee reduction already established for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders who are enrolled for the full year.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant is an Australian Citizen
  • Applicant identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Applicant is not currently a student at Newcastle Waldorf School.
  • Applicant demonstrates a significant level of connection to Country and Culture.
    Applicant demonstrates alignment with the core values and expectations of
  • Newcastle Waldorf School throughout the assessment process.
  • This scholarship is not means-tested.

Newcastle Waldorf School Senior School Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a potential Year 11 student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in at least three subjects.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant is an Australian Citizen
    Applicant is not currently a student at Newcastle Waldorf School.
  • Applicant to demonstrate consistent exemplary academic performance across at least three subjects, and positive behaviour in their current school community. School reports from the last two (2) academic years must be provided to support these criteria.
  • Applicant to demonstrate a significant level of commitment to activities involving creative writing, visual arts, music, or design and technology.
  • Applicant demonstrates alignment with the core values and expectations of Newcastle Waldorf School throughout the assessment process.
  • This scholarship is granted on academic merit and demonstrated financial need. It is a means-tested scholarship.

Donations

Supporting our students through scholarships

Newcastle Waldorf School Scholarship Committee (NWSSC) invite the community to gift an opportunity to a student. Our scholarships have been established to create something life changing, meaningful and future focused.

Our scholarship fund accepts tax-deductible donations above $2; a receipt can be issued upon request. Contributions to the Newcastle Waldorf School Scholarship Fund can be made to the following account:

  • BSB: 325-185
  • ACCOUNT NUMBER: 04044117

Our range of scholarships offer students the means to thrive and reach their educational goals. We warmly invite you to gift and nurture the next generation of creative and inspired students at Newcastle Waldorf School.

Visiting Students

Newcastle Waldorf School has established strong relationships with a range of Steiner Schools across the world and have hosted many students for a school term. Visiting students offer a life-changing experience for our own students, allowing all primary and high school students an opportunity to learn about another culture. Through this process, our students experience cultural diversity, forge friendships and foster skills that are needed to live in a global community.

“I enjoyed my stay in Newcastle. I was hosted by a loving family who took great care of us. We studied at Newcastle Waldorf School, which has lovely grounds and a beautiful campus. The teachers and facilitators were extremely kind and supportive. My most cherished moments included the morning circles, listening to the choir, singing, playing games with my friends, and sitting in the warm sun over the lush green fields.

We came here to learn the basics of surveying with our teacher, Jayesh. The three-week course involved a lot of fieldwork and classroom activities. I enjoyed learning new skills and mathematical concepts while having loads of fun, at the same time.

I would like to thank Sophia, Jayesh, my parents, and everyone who made this wonderful trip possible.”

Sharva Mukadam
Exchange Student - Learning Foundation, Pune, India (2024)
“The Newcastle Waldorf School has a vibrant and musical start to the day compared to what we are accustomed to in Pune, India. Their school grounds are spacious and beautiful. The Class 10 students at NWS are just as fun-loving as we are, they work hard, just like we do, and enjoy laughing at shared jokes. I also had a great time playing volleyball with many of my classmates during breaks.”
Vivan Shinde
Exchange Student - Learning Foundation, Pune, India (2024)

Jayesh Pillarisetty is a Waldorf school mentor and science teacher based in India. He coordinates the Humanising Education teacher training and the Indian Waldorf Outdoor Classroom program. Jayesh has supported students visiting between India and Newcastle Waldorf School. The latest was in 2024 when Jayesh supported a group of students from Pune, India, who visited our school to study surveying. Jayesh has previously hosted students and teachers from our school on visits to India.

“One hopes that these visits of teachers, parents and students will continue, deepening and revitalizing the intercultural relationships between the Waldorf schools/initiatives, in both countries.”

Jayesh Pillarisetty
Indian Waldorf School Mentor
“Thank you very much.. It was my pleasure to go to your school and get to know everybody. I really enjoyed being here and I’m going to miss it very much!”
Cosima Geada
German Exchange Student (Term 2, 2024)

“Over the past few years, we have had the privilege of being a host family on numerous occasions, providing both short-term and long-term accommodations for visitors to NWS.

Being a host family is a deeply rewarding experience on many levels. Most notably, it allows you to support the school, its community, and the broader global Steiner community. Hosting also offers the unique opportunity to see your local area through the fresh perspective of a visitor, leading to surprising discoveries or rediscoveries of attractions and locations that may have been overlooked amidst the routines of daily life.

Additionally, hosting opens the door to learning about different countries, cultures, languages, and traditions; an enriching experience that might not otherwise happen. It fosters lasting friendships and connections with wonderful people from diverse parts of the world.

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting two visitors from Germany, a student and a student teacher. Through this experience, we have developed close friendships with like-minded individuals who are eager to reciprocate the hospitality. They have warmly invited our children, and indeed our entire family, to visit their city and school in the future, further strengthening these meaningful connections.”

Mark Paul
NWS Parent and Host For Numerous International Visitors To The School
“My three months in Australia are already such a long time ago, but sometimes it feels like it was yesterday, I remember it well and I still think about it as an absolutely amazing experience.”
Ariana Schmitt
Swiss Exchange Student (2019)
From Liam’s father – “Once again thanks for the experience Liam had at your school, he has really enjoyed and learned a lot from the experience. Hopefully this will foster a relationship between your school and the Stellenbosch Waldorf School and we can have an official exchange programme in the future.”
Liam Muller
South African Exchange Student (2019)
“I’m enjoying my school pretty much now! but I already miss Australia as well.”
Shizuku Katsube
Japanese Exchange Student (2018-9)

“Our Japanese students are back at their school. At the risk of repeating myself, a large part of the credit for its success must go to the school staff and your students. A visit such as this would only succeed with the cooperation of all those concerned. The feedback from the teacher and the students was very positive. They already expressed their intention to come back to your college next year! Our students have been very excited and have talked constantly about their host buddies and the other friendships they have formed. With the help of social media, many of them will stay connected and be buddies for years to come.

VS Oceania cannot express our appreciation enough for your assistance and cooperation in planning and implementing the visit. We look forward to and pray for a long, happy, and fruitful association with Newcastle Waldorf School.”

Takaahi USHINOHAMA
VS Oceania Cultural Exchange (August 2024)

School Affiliates

Newcastle Waldorf School has established several affiliate partners that offer our teachers, students, and the wider community rich learning experiences to maintain the diverse artistic and cultural legacy of the school.

We strive to connect with our local First Nations Parent Elders and local Knowledge Holders to share within our school whilst also promoting access to external knowledge holders.

Please contact us if you would like to become an affiliate partner.

Join Our School

To express an interest in joining our wonderful school, please follow the link

Where education inspires the whole child

Acknowledgment of Traditional landowners

We would like to acknowledge and give respect to the Awaba Custodians past, present and emerging who care for the land, waterways, skyways, animals, and people of the area in which we learn and play. We would like to honour the spiritual guidance and the depth of understanding within the story-telling traditions and interactions with Country of all First Nations peoples. Within Muloobinba Waldorf Minamba, we acknowledge that our community are on Lands that were never ceded and openly accept our responsibility to walk in truthful songlines for a connected future.

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