Pride Business Association (NSW) announced PBA Education Fund scholarships for three LGBTQIA+ people working to improve mental health care, strengthen community leadership and expand access to inclusive services.
Jessica Wilcox, Cassandra Armstrong and Dean Millett have been announced as recipients of the 2026 PBA Education Fund scholarships.
The PBA Education Fund was created to empower LGBTQIA+ people aged 30 and over to change the trajectory of their lives through education.
The Fund provides a financial grant annually to LGBTQIA+ individuals who want to undertake a formal learning & development program to create positive change in their own lives, or through them, the lives of others in our community.
“We believe that financial inequality and missed opportunities early in life should never be a barrier to self-improvement or self-actualisation in later years,” the PBA website says.
“Jess, Cassandra and Dean are already making a contribution to our community,” PBA President Jarrod Lomas said.
“These scholarships will help them build the skills to take that work further and reach more people.”
“For many LGBTQIA+ people, education has been interrupted by discrimination, financial pressure or a lack of support. We want people to have the opportunity to return to study or take the next step in their careers, whatever path brought them here.”
Jess Wilcox receives the $10,000 Michael Glynn Scholarship
A lived and living experience consultant and advocate, Jess is studying psychological science at the University of Newcastle and plans to pursue postgraduate study in social work.
An advocate working across mental health, disability inclusion and LGBTQIA+ communities, they draw on that experience, research and service design.
Jess aims to strengthen youth mental health and suicide prevention, ensuring people with lived and living experience help shape the systems that support them.
Cassandra Armstrong receives the $5,000 Rise Scholarship
A queer, non-binary leader and advocate, Cassandra Armstrong serves as Deputy CEO of ADHD Australia, founder of Trans and Gender Diverse Kids Australia and a board member of Guthrie House.
They are undertaking the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course to build their governance, financial oversight and strategic leadership skills.
Cassandra aims to strengthen LGBTQIA+ inclusion on boards and ensure diverse lived experiences are represented in organisational decision-making.
Dean Millett receives the $2,500 MCC Welfare Services Scholarship
An Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with more than 20 years of healthcare experience, Dean plans to study sexology at Curtin University.
His goal is to expand access to specialist, affirming sexual and relationship wellbeing services for LGBTQIA+ people in rural communities.
Through this, he will be able to help them access support close to home while strengthening mental wellbeing and community connection.
PBA work with individual donors, corporate partners and community organisations to fund our scholarships.
“What stands out about this year’s recipients is their clear sense of purpose,” said Dr Chris Colwell, Chair of the PBA Education Fund Committee.
“Each has identified how further study can help them respond to a need in our community, whether that is better mental health support, more inclusive governance or access to specialist care.”
“We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Fund, including our scholarship partner MCC Welfare Services. Their support helps turn these ambitions into opportunities for further study and service to the community.”
MCC Welfare Services joined the Fund as a scholarship sponsor in 2026.
The partnership reflects their belief that everyone deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive, and that community organisations play a vital role in making those opportunities real.
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