Youth Opportunities Join Forces with Sliding Doors to Support More Young People

Scholarship Recipient Jess Tresidder meets with Youth Opportunities CE, Emily Martinella; Sliding Doors Chair, Tony Irvine; and Sliding Doors Marketing Manager, Cam Ielasi

Youth Opportunities is delighted to announce our partnership with Sliding Doors, a South Australian foundation dedicated to empowering young people to reach their full potential through financial support, improved access to education, and the development of leadership capability.

Grounded in a shared belief that real change happens when young people are supported not just by programs, but by communities and partnerships that believe in their potential, this collaboration has created the opportunity to provide a life-changing scholarship to a highly deserving young student.

Meet Our Recipient

21-year-old Jess Tresidder’s path to higher education hasn’t been straightforward. Growing up in regional Mount Gambier, she made the move to Adelaide with a clear goal: to use education as a pathway to opportunity.

Like many of the young people that both Youth Opportunities and Sliding Doors support, Jess has had to navigate financial pressure while balancing part-time work and full-time study. Despite this, her determination and drive to succeed have seen her achieve an outstanding GPA of 6.07.

Now studying Business and Marketing at the University of Adelaide, Jess’s journey with Youth Opportunities began in Year 10, when she completed our Personal Leadership Program. Through this experience, she developed the confidence, resilience and self-belief to pursue her goals — skills that continue to shape her future today.

The Scholarship

This tertiary scholarship will provide Jess with a full year of financial support, easing the cost-of-living pressures that can make university feel out of reach. More importantly, it provides stability, confidence, and the ability to focus on what matters most.

Jess’s story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when the right support meets the right moment.

Our Partnership

Our partnership with the Sliding Doors Foundation plays a vital role in making stories like Jess’s possible. By combining our strengths, we’re able to support more young people to not only access education, but to thrive within it.

Thank you to the generosity of our donor community for making this possible.