FOUNDERS UPDATE

 It’s been a deadly start to 2026 for GO! Our GO Team have been busy creating meaningful opportunities for connection, from school visits with the Scholarships Team to hosting the Supporters Welcome, Culture Connect Days and the first Alumni Dinner of the year. Thanks to their hard work, we’ve seen Scholars, Alumni and our wider community come together, showing us once again the incredible power of the GO Foundation and the impact we can have together. You can read more about all these moments in this edition of the Founders’ Update, and we can’t wait to share even more stories from the GO community as the year unfolds. 

- Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin

Founders

As 2026 gets underway, I find myself reflecting on last year and the incredible achievements we shared. Releasing our 2025 Impact Report back in January was a special moment, giving us the chance to celebrate milestones that highlight the impact of GO’s work. 

Last year, we supported 650 Scholars and celebrated 94 students completing Year 12, with six more graduating from university. To keep pace with this growth, we welcomed Aliesha as our fourth Scholarship Program Manager – an important step in strengthening the support we provide every day. We also marked five years of work in Canberra and launched our inaugural Careers Experience Day, bringing together more than 200 high school Scholars to explore career pathways, industries and educational pathways. 

With 2026 now in full swing, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum. This year, over 75 students are on track to graduate from high school, with a further 15 completing university. We’ll be strengthening connections with our partners and supporters, and increasing the number of student focused events to foster deeper engagement. At the same time, we’ll focus on growing university scholarships and expanding our Alumni Network – initiatives that are key to supporting Scholars and celebrating their achievements throughout the year. 

Looking further ahead, 2026 is also a year of planning and growth, as we prepare for our next strategy period in 2027–2030. This promises to be an exciting phase of significant expansion and even greater impact for GO. 

And as always, our focus remains on our students and Alumni. Their growth, strength and dedication continue to inspire us every day. We look forward to sharing many more of their success stories with you throughout the year.

- Charlene Davison

CEO