Iconic Australian performer Christine Anu will headline this year's Bond University Indigenous Gala in November, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to educate young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Tickets have just gone on sale for the annual gala event, which will be held on Friday November 13, and is Bond's major fundraiser to support its Indigenous Scholarship Program, along with being an opportunity to promote Indigenous culture to the wider community.
Since 2010, the Bond University Indigenous Gala has raised more than $660,000, with $277,000 raised last year alone, and has attracted community and corporate attendance from across Australia.
Bond University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Pathways and Partnerships, Catherine O'Sullivan, said the event was a vital component of Bond's commitment to better outcomes for Indigenous communities.
"The Indigenous Gala has evolved into a broad-based celebration of Indigenous culture featuring high profile Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personalities, leaders and past and present students, but the motivation behind the event is very serious," she said.
"Over the past two years alone, more than $2.5 million has been invested into Indigenous education at Bond, providing scholarships for 29 students to achieve a university qualification along with the leadership skills and confidence needed to reach their full potential.
"While this has helped to drive a 64 per cent increase in the Indigenous student cohort at Bond, a significant gap remains Australia-wide between higher education enrolments and outcomes for Indigenous Australians compared with their non-Indigenous peers.
"Bond is committed to doing its part to see that gap continue to close and we are very proud to say that our Indigenous student retention and completion rates are well above the national average.
"The support for the Bond University Indigenous Gala is growing every year and I'm confident this year will be no exception. We're really excited to have Christine Anu share her story and perform at this year's event, and help us raise more money to educate ambitious young Indigenous students."
Under the patronage of Dr Patrick Corrigan AM, the inaugural Indigenous event was run as an art auction designed to raise funds for scholarships, and has grown to become one of the largest fundraising and social events held by Bond University annually, with 450 people attending last year.
Dr Corrigan, who has been a long term supporter of Bond University and its Indigenous program will be one of the VIP guests at this year's event.
The Bond University Indigenous Gala will be held at Bond's Sports Hall on Friday, November 13. Tickets are $200 each or $2000 for a table of 10. For further information visit Indigenous Gala.