Pierre Gorman Foundation gift supports Narrm Scholars and future specialist teachers
A $3 million commitment from the Eugene Marthe and Pierre Gorman Foundation will help students facing disadvantage access university and support future specialist teachers.
The gift will expand the University of Melbourne's Narrm Scholarship Program and establish the Pierre Gorman Postgraduate Scholarship in the Faculty of Education.
The scholarships honour the legacy of Dr Pierre Gorman, the first person born deaf to graduate from the University of Melbourne, who dedicated his career to advancing disability and inclusive education.
From 2027, up to 12 Narrm Scholars will receive a living allowance of $6,500 a year for up to four years. From 2028, the new Pierre Gorman Postgraduate Scholarship will support up to four students annually, with priority given to those enrolled in the Master of Learning Intervention, followed by the Master of Teaching.
Caption: Pierre Gorman was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1983 New Year Honours for his revolutionary services to people with disabilities. Image credit: Eugene Marthe & Pierre Gorman Foundation
The Narrm Scholarship Program supports students who may face barriers to participating in higher education, helping them focus on their studies and make the most of university life.
A current Narrm Scholar and Bachelor of Arts student, Emily, said the scholarship had helped her make the most of her university experience.
“The Narrm Scholarship has opened up so many opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise. For example, as part of the program, I attended the Pre-Orientation Camp, which connected me with some amazing friends from different backgrounds and people with similar stories to mine. Meeting people who understood what I have been through without having to explain everything made me feel like I belonged at the University,” Emily said.
“Because of my own hearing disability, I have always wanted to help others going through something similar. Growing up, there were times I felt really isolated because people around me didn't always understand what I was dealing with, and I had to figure a lot of it out on my own.
“After finishing my bachelor's, I'm hoping to go on and study a Master of Audiology so I can support people dealing with hearing-related issues, the same way I wish I'd had that support growing up.”
Dr Pierre Gorman graduated from the University of Melbourne with degrees in Agricultural Science and Education before completing a doctorate at the University of Cambridge. He built a distinguished career in inclusive education and became an internationally recognised advocate for people with disability.
In 2000, he returned to the University to deliver a graduation address reflecting on his experiences as a student and his vision for a more inclusive society.
L-R: Emily and Queenie Sheng, Bachelor of Arts Narrm Scholars; John Mooney, Director and Trustee, Eugene Marthe & Pierre Gorman Foundation. Photo by David Darlington.
John Mooney, Chair of the Eugene Marthe and Pierre Gorman Foundation, said:
"Meeting Pierre as a student changed the course of my life. He challenged us to see beyond labels and assumptions and to recognise the abilities and potential in every person. He encouraged his students to think differently and always strive to do their best.
"Pierre believed in the power of education to open doors. I hope every student who benefits from this gift sees it as he would have seen it: a window of opportunity and a pathway to learning, growth and achievement."
Professor Marek Tesar, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne, thanked the Eugene Marthe and Pierre Gorman Foundation for its generous support.
"We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for ensuring that Pierre Gorman's legacy endures. Pierre's commitment to curiosity, resilience, compassion and contributing to society continues to resonate with our students today.
"By supporting Narrm Scholars and future educators in the Faculty of Education, this gift will create opportunities whose impact will be felt in classrooms and communities for years to come."
The Foundation has also committed an equivalent gift to Monash University, where Dr Gorman was a Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Special Education, recognising his lasting connection to both institutions.