The First in Family University Scholarships will award $1,000 each to one student from Glenala State High School and one from Forest Lake State High School to support their transition to university.
Ms Nightingale said the scholarship was inspired by her own experience as the first person in her family to go to university.
“I know firsthand how daunting it can feel to step into university when no one in your family has done it before,” Ms Nightingale said.
“Being the first in my family to attend university changed the course of my life, and I want young people in our community to know those opportunities are open to them too.”
University participation in the electorate remains lower than the national average, Ms Nightingale said.
While nearly half of young Australians now hold a university degree, only around 22% of young people in Inala do.
Ms Nightingale said many local students had the ability to succeed at university but sometimes needed additional encouragement.
“Students in our community are incredibly capable, but sometimes they just need that extra support and encouragement to take the next step,” she said.
The $1,000 scholarships are designed to help cover early costs associated with starting university, including textbooks, technology and other study expenses.
Support for aspiring university students is also available through the Inala University Study Hub, which opened earlier this year
The hub offers a local space for students to study, access academic support and connect with other university students.
“Together, initiatives like the Study Hub and this scholarship help make university more accessible and achievable for young people in our community, ” Ms Nightingale said.
Scholarship applicants must be Year 12 students attending Glenala State High School or Forest Lake State High School, live in the Inala electorate and plan to begin full-time undergraduate study at an Australian university in 2027.
“When one student becomes the first in their family to attend university, it changes what the next generation believes is possible,” Ms Nightingale said.
“My hope is that this scholarship helps open the door for students who might otherwise think university isn’t for them.”
Applications close in October 2026.
