Asg Celebrates Decade's Support For Children's Ed

Asg Celebrates A Decade Of Support For Children's Education

While the cost of tertiary education can be a financial burden for some parents and their student children, for others, a programme entered into a decade ago has provided a significant financial contribution.

ASG (Australian Scholarships Group) is a not-for-profit friendly society which this weekend celebrates its 10th anniversary operating in New Zealand, at a conference in Palmerston North. ASG was established in Australia 26 years ago.

In New Zealand there are now 46,000 children enrolled in ASG's two main education planning programmes, which provide motivation and funding for secondary and tertiary schooling and associated expenses.

Parents enrol their children at an early age, some from birth, for these programmes and ASG counsellors work with parents and students to encourage students into tertiary education.

ASG's chief executive, Terry O'Connell, said that the society is now well established in New Zealand.

"We began paying scholarships to existing ASG members in 1997 with 12 students qualifying for tertiary education expenses that year, an additional 41 in 1998, a further 87 in 1999 and a new pool of 228 in 2000.

"The value of education in career selection has never been more important that it is now, let alone in ten or 15 years time when children first enrolled in the ASG programme will begin their tertiary training", said Mr O'Connell.

The Society now has established specific pools of funds for its New Zealand members. As at 30 June 2000, there was over $100 million held in members' funds invested through Westpac Trust Investment Management - NZ Limited.

ASG provides a member magazine, "The Scholastic", a periodical for schools, "Education Horizons", and has been the initiator of the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA). It also promotes "You Can Do It! Education", a motivational programme for students, parents and teachers.

Ends

Information from: ASG (Australian Scholarships Group) Contact: Terry O'Connell, chief executive officer Phone: 00613 9276 7758 (Melbourne) - business or Frank O'Neill, national marketing co-ordinator Phone 04 939 2065 (bus), 021 344 687 (mobile) Email: scholarship.services@paradise.net.nz

Prepared by: Communications Trumps Ltd, Wellington Contact: Joanne Ruscoe Phone 04 499-0873 (bus); 04 479-2923 (home); 025 925 733 (mobile); Fax 04 499-0876; Email: joanne@comtrumps.co.nz

© Scoop Media