About Us

Broaden his horizons Broaden our horizons

(Our 2010 motto)

Riverview does not offer scholarships of any kind, but financially needs based bursaries. For example, boys from rural and city families, indigenous families and refugees referred by the Jesuit Refugee Service, represent just some of the beneficiaries of the Bursary Fund in 2009.

We in 2010 will have approximately 90 boys on bursaries’ from Year 7 to Year 12.In other words, an average of 15 boys in each year. The average cost of a bursary is nearly $20,000 bearing in mind the majority are boarders. Not all boys are on full bursaries’ and each story and circumstance is different.

The growth of the Bursary program over recent years has been a hallmark of the Riverview College Foundation’s work. In 1999 there were 38 boys on financially assisted bursaries; by 2005 this number had grown to 55 boys and in 2009 84 boys attended Riverview through the generosity of donors. For 2010 we have established a target of being able to assist 90 boys. None of these boys are funded by current parents by the cross-subsidisation of fees. Each year, as the program grows, there is an increased need to source voluntary contributions from the Riverview Community. Today the passion and donor commitment transcends Old Boys, Past Parents, Staff, Current Parents and a much broader Riverview Community, including friends of Riverview.

Eighty – four boys required a total of over $1.7 mill to be raised during 2009. Despite, or perhaps because of, the tougher economic times, 2009 proved to be a year in which the true Ignatian spirit of our donors showed through and we were able to meet this target. Individual Bursary contributors grew to 1000 people across all donors groups with all constituency donor channels expanding both in number and contributions. In the Class Bursary program alone average individual donations increased by 30 percent in value.

 Examples of 2009 initiatives and achievements:

·         Publication of the speeches of Kir Deng and Ben Powell in a dedicated brochure

·         Further success of the Bursary Donor ‘Thank You’ functions

·         Establishment of on-line banking facility through the Riverview website

·         Production of a short film portraying the full spirit of the Bursary Program

·         Individual Bursary contributors grew to over 1000 people across all donors groups

·         Average individual donations increased by 30% in value through the OIU Class Bursary

·         All constituency donor channels expanded in number and contributions

·         84 Bursary recipients in 2009 with the objective of 90 boys in 2010.

The Bursary Program is unique to Riverview. Over the last twelve months, we have maximized the advantages achieved in 2009 by building on the platform of former years. Community awareness and understanding of the Riverview Bursary Program has flourished. As members of the wider Riverview community become more aware of the Program, so the pool of donors expands. Today, donations come from the Old Boys, Past Parents, Staff, Current Parents, and the broader Riverview community including friends of Riverview.