Waverley Stanley established Yalari to bring about long-term generational change for Indigenous children. Through Waverley’s efforts, Yalari is now a thriving not-for-profit organisation offering scholarships to Indigenous children from remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In this session, hear Waverley share his experience of the rewards and challenges of his journey to date, the approach he took to working with local Indigenous communities, and the benefits these communities receive as their children achieve success in tertiary education.

Waverley Stanley
Waverley Stanley grew up in Queensland’s Murgon and Cherbourg district. He is descended from the Wakka Wakka people, and identifies with the Barunggam people of Chinchilla. In 1979, Waverley’s primary school teacher Rosemary Bishop at Murgon State School took a big step on his behalf. She negotiated a secondary school scholarship for him at Toowoomba Grammar School, a private boarding school for boys. Waverley’s own boarding school experience started him on the Yalari journey. Through his unwavering vision and passion, Yalari’s work is now supported nationally by individuals, companies, philanthropic foundations, government departments and many fantastic volunteers.

Waverley previously worked extensively throughout Queensland as an Indigenous Support Officer for Education Queensland and he has presented and facilitated workshops and conferences for Indigenous people throughout Australia, in leadership and education.

He has a passion for education and the empowerment of Indigenous children and was rewarded for this passion as a Queensland finalist in the Australian of the Year in 2010.