2026 Rising Women of Western Sydney Scholarship
The Parramatta Eels and City of Parramatta Council are supporting the next generation of influential females shaping the face of Western Sydney.
We’ve partnered to recognise an exceptional female from the community with a scholarship, valued at more than $30,000, designed to help them reach their full potential.
The winner of the 2026 Rising Women of Western Sydney Scholarship will receive:
- A $15,000 cash scholarship. This can be used on activities to further enhance the work the recipient’s are already doing, whether it be through implementing community programs, further education and development etc.
- An internship with the Parramatta Eels in an identified business area that will support the recipient’s continued work within the community, career aspirations or personal development
- A leadership course with the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue valued at $13,000
We’re looking for women who demonstrate leadership qualities and aspire to leadership roles, have a track record of hard work and resilience and can be true game changers for our community.
The recipient will demonstrate the potential to make or have made an outstanding contribution to the region – for example, a community organisation, through sport, as a volunteer through a community project such as grassroots or charity organisations, or be an innovator in business, technology, education, science, arts or other industry.
Before securing the Rising Women scholarship, I really wanted to take my passion for self-discovery and career design and use it to help more young people - whether that was in schools through myDESIGN or through other education programs within the NRL. The scholarship unlocked both for me: I was able to reach more young people in schools in 2025 and it opened up the door for me to lead the Eels Institute - an innovative education arm to the Parramatta Eels.
Kirstene Ciappara Inaugural Rising Women Scholarship Winner
This is about the women investing their time, energy and passion in seeing the Rising West thrive.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be aged between 18 and 28 years (as of 1 July 2026)
- Reside, work or study in the Parramatta Local Government Area (LGA) and/or show significant connection to the local community – for example, through sport, volunteering or other community-based activities.
To apply, you must complete and submit the form below by 9pm on the 5th June 2026.
Applications will be judged by a panel of senior leaders from the Parramatta Eels and City of Parramatta, with finalists invited to complete an interview.
What are you waiting for? Apply now.
Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
