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From aspiring Paralympians to performers, Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ ACT is supporting the next generation of aspiring Australian talent.

96 young athletes and performers from across NSW and the ACT are being given a helping hand to chase their dreams, receiving 2026 Variety Heart Scholarships (VHS) valued at $320,000.

The scholarships support children living with disability, chronic illness or financial hardship to remove financial barriers and cover pathway expenses.

The 96 recipients are children competing at high levels in their chosen sport and young performers skilled in areas such as dance, singing and musical instruments.

For some of the young athletes, the scholarships come at an exciting time for Australian para-sport with the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane less than six years away.

Variety NSW CEO, Tony Warner, said the scholarships are about making sure financial circumstances don’t stop children from seeing just how far their talent can take them.

“For some children, the Variety Heart Scholarships will pay for coaching or equipment,” he said.

“For others, particularly those in remote and regional areas, it can cover the cost of travelling to competitions or accessing opportunities that simply wouldn’t be possible for their families without support.”

“We’ve got Commonwealth Games medallists, national champions and some incredibly talented young performers among this year’s recipients. They’re already showing us what they’re capable of, it’s exciting to think that some of them could be representing Australia on the world stage in 2032.”

15 year old Phoenix from Islingston is a highly skilled water polo player who captained Australia at the U16 Water Polo World Championships in Croatia last month and is now preparing for the U17s State Championships in Melbourne in October.

Phoenix said the scholarship will enable his family to cover the many expenses that come with elite level junior sport.

“My family sacrificed alot to get me to the world championships which was such a huge step for me. I really want to be able to build on everything I achieved there and knowing I have this scholarship behind me will help to open alot of doors, take the pressure off my family and let me focus on what comes next,” he said.

Since 2018, Variety Heart Scholarships have been generously sponsored by presenting partner, the Grahame Mapp Family Foundation, in honour of the late Gillian Mapp.

In addition to the 96 VHS recipients, the 2026 Gillian Mapp Award for Outstanding Achievement is being presented to Cranebrook’s Layla Sharp who achieved a silver medal in the Women’s Long Jump T38 at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in July.     

Tony said Layla first received a VHS in 2018 as a determined 10 year old with a dream to represent Australia.

“Now, at 18, she has achieved that dream and so much more,” he said.

“Layla has recieved over $30,000 in support from Variety NSW throughout her athletics journey, and her story is a wonderful example of the incredible difference sustained support can make.”

“Layla is an inspiration not only to the 96 young people recieving Variety Heart Scholarships this year but to everyone who believes in Variety’s mission of empowering children to live without limits.”

See more of Layla’s story

Find out more about applications for the next round of Variety Heart Scholarships.