Gifts in Wills

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Look ever forward. Make education your legacy.

The great University should find its heroes in the present, its hope in the future. It should look ever forward, for the past should be but a preparation for the greater days to be.

Prime Minister John Curtin, 1932.

Andrew Nicholls, Untitled (Cockatoos), 2021. Learn more about the artist and artwork here.

A gift in your Will is one of the most powerful ways to create a lasting legacy, ensuring that the life you have lived benefits the world you leave behind.

By remembering Curtin University in your Will, you make a heartfelt commitment to the future of education, research and community impact. Gifts of any size help create opportunities and support meaningful change for years to come.

We are profoundly grateful to those who choose to look ever forward with us. Their generosity, vision and commitment help build a smarter, fairer world, and we are proud to welcome them as members of the Curtin family.

How to leave your gift

Changing lives

Changing lives

A gift to an area of meaning can have a lasting impact for generations to
come.

Enduring values

Enduring values

A gift in memory of a loved one is a meaningful way to commemorate a life well
lived.

Invest in the future

Invest in the future

An endowment fund is a powerful way to shape the future of education.

If you are thinking of leaving a gift to Curtin, we encourage you to reach out to discuss your wishes before you draft or update your Will, especially if you are leaving a gift for a specific purpose or giving an asset, such as an artwork. This will ensure that your wishes can be fulfilled by the University.

We recommend you seek legal advice when drafting your Will or amending an existing Will. Curtin is unable to provide specific legal advice; however, we can recommend you a solicitor specialising in Wills and estates. Additionally, online Will-writing services are available. EveryWill is a free platform designed to make creating your Will simple and accessible.

We also encourage you to share your wishes with your loved ones and explain to them why your decision to include Curtin in your Will is important to you.

Look Ever Forward

Look Ever Forward

When you include Curtin in your Will, you become a treasured member of the Look Ever Forward Society – a growing circle of like-minded people with a shared vision of Curtin’s future.

The Curtin FM Society

The Curtin FM Society

Leaving a bequest to Curtin FM helps support our mission to bring people together through music.

The Egan Street Circle

The Egan Street Circle

Egan Street Circle brings together individuals who share a vision to support the WA School of Mines, through a gift in their Will.

Our stories

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Allison Taylor Single Mum Scholarship

Allison Taylor had a life-long love of learning and an unwavering commitment to supporting and encouraging others. Her last wish was to establish a scholarship at Curtin to help single mums.

“The scholarship embodies my mum and who she was. She was driven to learn and to grow and in the wake of losing her having this scholarship and knowing the difference it can make is so important”
– Rachael Taylor, Allison’s daughter

Learn more about the Scholarship
Watch the video about the Scholarship

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Roger Chao

A distinguished governance expert, entrepreneur, board strategist and advocate for social justice, Roger has spent much of his life thinking deeply about responsibility – not just to his profession, but to society.

“I used to assume legacy was something you ponder later in life, but what changed for me was realising that everything we do now shapes the future. The question isn’t what should I do when I’m older – it’s what should I do now?”
Read more

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Ailsa West

Ailsa West is leaving a gift in her Will to enable high-achieving screen arts students to pursue their dreams.

“I hope my bequest will encourage and reward future generations. It is for those people who are highly motivated and passionate. I hope it might allow someone to travel overseas and make that important film or documentary.”
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Nelly Hodges

Curtin graduate Nelly Hodges wants to inspire future generations of medical scientists.

“My main motivation behind leaving the bequest was my passion for medical science. I wanted to ensure future generations were encouraged to pursue medical science. It is in some ways a silent profession, with the general public unaware of what we do, but it is incredibly rewarding, especially in the hospital setting as you are helping to save lives.”
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Get in touch

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Every legacy starts with a conversation. We hope the information provided here assists you in your planning and we encourage you to contact Alana for a confidential discussion about your wishes. We would be honoured to listen to your story and help you create a lasting legacy for generations to come.

E: alana.hammond@curtin.edu.au
P: +61 8 9266 3839

Our promise to you

Writing or amending your Will and deciding to leave a philanthropic donation is a major and very personal decision. We acknowledge that it takes time and careful consideration. Know that we are honoured that you are thinking of Curtin, and we will treat all discussions and enquiries with great respect and confidentiality. We are committed to ensuring that your gift is used wisely, responsibly and in a way that maximises its impact.

Jeffery Elliott

Jeffery Elliott is giving Carrolup drawings to the John Curtin Gallery in his Will, returning artworks by children of the Stolen Generations to Western Australia after decades in the United States.

Jeff’s mother, Jean Thompson (pictured), was raised in Katanning near the Carrolup Native Settlement, where Aboriginal children removed from their families were detained. Jean would play the organ at Sunday service in town and would repeat it at Carrolup for the children.

In 1945 Jean met Jeff’s father, a United States sailor stationed in Fremantle, and they were soon engaged and would move to the US. On one of her last Sundays at Carrolup, Jean was offered some of the children’s drawings to remind her of where she grew up. In Iowa, Jean would use the artworks to illustrate her homeland on the other side of the world to service groups and school classes.

Jeff feels the artworks should now be sent home to be reunited with many others by the Carrolup children, held in custodianship by the John Curtin Gallery, to educate the community on truth-telling and reconciliation.

Ailsa West

Ailsa West is leaving a gift in her Will to enable high achieving screen arts students in their final year or undertaking postgraduate studies to pursue their dreams.

When Ailsa applied to study a Bachelor of Arts in English and media at the WA Institute of Technology, little did she know how much it would change her life – she would go on to travel the globe working for leading universities and media organisations. However, her degree was hard fought for, as her family could not support her financially through university, forcing her to find time between studies to wash dishes and wait tables to pay her own way.

Ailsa decided to leave a bequest to future Curtin students similarly committed to their field, enabling highly motivated screen arts students to pursue important projects they might otherwise be precluded from.

“I hope my bequest will encourage and reward future generations. It is for those people who are highly motivated and passionate. I hope it might allow someone to travel overseas and make that important film or documentary.”

Nelly Hodges

Curtin graduate Nelly Hodges wants to inspire future generations of medical scientists.

After returning to study as a part time mature aged student at Curtin, Nelly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Science in 2005. Since then, she has found immense success in her field, working in the laboratories of leading hospitals across the state, most notably as a senior scientist at Perth’s Mount Hospital.

Wishing to give back, Nelly established an annual encouragement award for first-year Curtin laboratory medicine students, and has also pledged a generous gift in her Will to ensure that her awards continue to support students for generations to come.

“My main motivation behind leaving the bequest was my passion for medical science. I wanted to ensure future generations were encouraged to pursue medical science. It is in some ways a silent profession, with the general public unaware of what we do, but it is incredibly rewarding, especially in the hospital setting as you are helping to save lives.”

Paul Andrew Digby Robinson

In 2001 Paul Andrew Digby Robinson left a generous bequest in his Will to support research into Indigenous education at Curtin. With the help of his friends Walter and Sylvia Hyams, the innovative Noongar Language and Culture course was born.

Developed with Curtin’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, the course creates an awareness and understanding of significant aspects of Noongar culture, with its strong connections to family, community and country. This wonderful educational gift has continued to give and develop over time – in mid-2018, the program was adapted into a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that many thousands of people around the world have now accessed via the edX platform.

Curtin is truly grateful for the commitment of Paul, Walter and Sylvia to furthering understanding of Noongar culture and contributing so significantly to reconciliation.

Shelley Pike

Shelley Pike wants to enable an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to commence or further their university studies.

Born and raised in Perth, Shelley is a local government professional with fifteen years’ experience as a Chief Executive Officer in regional Western Australia, specialising in organisational change and business development. She completed a degree in social science at Curtin’s predecessor institution, the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), prior to undertaking postgraduate studies at the University of Western Australia.

Shelley has spent a significant portion of her life in WA’s Kimberley and Great Southern regions working with and employing Aboriginal people. As a result, she is passionate about the positive role education can play in improving opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities.

Shelley hopes her bequest will provide life changing opportunities for future generations.

Helen Potter

Having benefitted from a free university education in the 1970s, Curtin graduate Helen Potter is committed to helping the next generation of students access the same life-changing opportunities.

Helen grew up in a low socioeconomic environment but thanks to the government policy of the day, she was able to complete her undergraduate degree in physiotherapy in Melbourne. After graduating, Helen moved to Perth and worked at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and then as a rural locum physiotherapist for several years. She was awarded a scholarship to partially fund her postgraduate studies at Curtin.

Helen has become a leader in her field, involving herself with volunteer sports physiotherapy placements, and leading seminars, teleconferences and practical courses. She has supervised physiotherapy students in hospital clinics and taught undergraduate and postgraduate students at Curtin.

Helen’s bequest will support postgraduate physiotherapy students from remote and regional WA communities who are in need of financial assistance to undertake their studies at Curtin.

Margaret Cox

Margaret (Margot) Cox, a former librarian at the WA School of Mines, left a donation to Curtin in her Will. Margot forged a close connection with the University while working at the Kalgoorlie campus in the 1970s and was passionate about supporting students.

Mary Margaret Durack

Mary Durack generously left two artworks by important Kimberley artists Roy Wiggan and Mervyn Street to the John Curtin Gallery in her Will.

Mary began her working life as a marine biologist, before later completing a degree in Aboriginal Education. She was passionate about diving, snorkelling, bushwalking, indigenous culture and art collecting

During her career, Mary spent much time working in regional and remote parts of Australia, including the Kimberley and the Northern Territory. She also spent a number of years in Paris, where she set up and ran a small Aboriginal art business.

Mary retired to Kununurra in 2019. In the short time she lived there she developed strong relationships with the local Miriwoong people and attended cultural awareness and language courses to increase her knowledge. Her love for the country intensified as she walked extensively in the bush enjoying the amazing landscapes at her doorstep.

Mary’s passion and knowledge of art, especially Aboriginal art, inspired her to acquire a substantial and important collection during her lifetime.

In 2020, Mary was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and after brave battle passed away in Kununurra in October 2021.

Untitled by Andrew Nicholls

Curated by Curtin graduate Andrew Nicholls especially for the Look Ever Forward Society, the artwork pays homage to the enchanting black cockatoos that live amongst the trees at our Perth Campus.

The black cockatoo is an Australian native bird and a familiar sight at Curtin’s Perth campus. In Aboriginal culture, they represent change and enlightenment and herald the coming of rain.

Invest in the future

An endowment fund is a powerful way to shape the future of education. Endowed funds, held in perpetuity by Curtin University, generate a sustainable annual income through long-term capital growth. By donating to an existing endowment fund or creating a new endowment fund your gift will enable Curtin to support students for generations to come. The decision to endow a gift depends on a various factors and we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss your options.

Enduring values

A gift in memory of a loved one is a meaningful way to commemorate a life well lived and treasure the values they held dear, ensuring their positive impact continues well into the future. We would be honoured to help you create a lasting way to acknowledge and remember an important person in your life.

Changing lives

A gift to an area of meaning can have a lasting impact for generations to
come. Whether you wish to support students from a particular background, advance a field of study or contribute to research, including a gift in your Will ensures Curtin can continue changing lives for the better. Beyond teaching and research, Curtin also makes significant contributions to cultural pathways such as the John Curtin Gallery and Curtin FM. By giving to areas like these, you are investing in the transformative power of art and storytelling, ensuring our exhibitions and programs remain world class, accessible and sustainable for years to come.

Curtin FM Society

When you include Curtin FM in your Will, you become a treasured member of the Curtin FM Society. Members are invited to special Station events and, if they wish, can be acknowledged online or recognised on air.

View brochure

Suggested wording

I give to Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569) [the whole of my estate] or [x% of my estate] or [the sum of $____] for the specific purpose of supporting Curtin FM 100.1.

Egan Street Circle

Gifts received through Egan Street Circle will support the long-term success and overall betterment of the School and ensure that students continue to receive the best education in the highly innovative, research-driven and industry-linked environment that WASM has delivered for over 120 years.

Ways to support

If you choose to establish an endowment or give to an existing endowment, the capital is carefully invested to generate interest, with a percentage of the interest accrued annually being directed to support the School. Structuring your gift in this way ensures the impact will benefit future generations.

Option 1: WA School of Mines Scholarship Endowment
The WASM Scholarship Endowment was established to provide much-needed scholarships in perpetuity. The fund, supported by WASM alumni, is a way to assist students in meeting their educational and professional goals, relieving the pressure of financial commitments.

Option 2: Christine Foster Endowment Fund

Born in Kalgoorlie, Christine became a mining engineer after graduating from WASM in 1996 and sadly passing away in Edinburgh in 2000. Christine’s fellow WASM alumni have established the Christine Foster Memorial Scholarship and the Endowment Fund to honour her memory by supporting female students pursuing science and engineering degrees at Curtin.

Option 3: Supporting your passion
You may wish to support a specific area that you are passionate about or create your own bespoke endowment. If this applies to you, please get in touch with us to discuss the details of your bequest and to ensure that Curtin can fulfil your wishes.

Suggested wording

It is important that you seek appropriate legal advice when making or amending your Will. However, we have provided some suggested wording which you may wish to share with your solicitor.

Bequest to the WA School of Mines Scholarship Endowment

I give to the WA School of Mines, within Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569) [the whole of my estate] or [x% of /the residue of my estate] or [the sum of $_____] to be included within the WA School of Mines Scholarship Endowment to support the needs of students.

Bequest to the Christine Foster Endowment

I give to the WA School of Mines, within the Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569) [the whole of my estate] or [x% of /the residue of my estate] or [the sum of $_____] to be included within the Christine Foster Endowment to female students in pursuing science and engineering degrees at Curtin University.

Bequest to a specific area of study/research

I give to the WA School of Mines, within the Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569) [the whole of my estate] or [x% of /the residue of my estate] or [the sum of $_____] for the specific purpose of [name of intended scholarship/department/research area, etc.]. However, if circumstances change and my wish cannot be fulfilled, I direct that a duly authorised officer at the WA Schools of Mines allocates the bequest in such a manner that best approximates my wishes.

Look Ever Forward Society

As a valued member of our Curtin Community, you will be presented with a beautiful Look Ever Forward Society pin and receive invitations to attend special events. For those interested, you could also be acknowledged on our website, paving the way for others to consider investing in their futures.

View brochure

Suggested wording

Gift to a specific area of Curtin
I give to Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569) [the whole of my estate] or [x% of my estate] or [the sum of $____] for the specific purpose of [name of intended scholarship/area/faculty/research, etc.]. However, if circumstances change and my wish cannot be fulfilled, I direct that a duly authorised officer at Curtin University allocates the bequest in such a manner that best approximates my wishes. If your wish is that these funds are to be held in an endowment fund, ensure this is stated in the above.

Leaving a work of art
If you are considering leaving a work of art, we thank you and encourage you to contact us for a confidential discussion to ensure that your wishes can be enacted.

John Curtin Gallery welcomes gifts of works of art, which are assessed in line with the Gallery’s acquisition policy, established to ensure the integrity of the Curtin University Art Collection. Due to storage restraints, works that do not align with the acquisition policy and are not accepted into the permanent collection may be sold, with proceeds invested in John Curtin Gallery to support programs and development.

Here is some suggested wording which you may wish to share with your solicitor.

Gift of artwork to John Curtin Gallery
I give to John Curtin Gallery, within Curtin University, Western Australia (ABN 99 143 842 569), [clearly describe work of art including artist, title and date] for use at its absolute discretion.