Legacy doesn't just fund scholarships - it sends a person to your door. For more than a century, Legacy has provided ongoing, personal support to the families of veterans who have died, or been wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service, through a national network of volunteer mentors called Legatees. Its tertiary education scholarships run up to $22,500 over a four-year degree, on top of school-level support and DVA advocacy.
More than 28,000 people are currently supported. And in February 2026, Legacy made the most significant change in its 100+ year history: it removed the operational service requirement, opening the door to a much larger group of veteran families.
Every application has three components:
- Essential requirements - the service and family gates.
- Circumstances - what your family has been through, not an income test.
- Your Digger's story - understanding and sharing your veteran's service.
1. Essential requirements
You must meet all of these. Legacy support is family-based, and it's arranged through your local club rather than a single national application round.
| Requirement | The rule |
|---|---|
| Veteran's service | At least one year of continuous service as a permanent ADF member. For Allied veteran and Australian Mariner descendants, operational service. |
| What happened to them | The veteran has passed away, or been wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service. |
| Your relationship | Child or partner of the veteran. Allied veteran and Australian Mariner descendants may be direct descendants or adopted children. |
This is the broadest Legacy eligibility has ever been. Until February 2026, support was largely limited to families where the veteran had operational service - a deployment to a conflict, peacekeeping operation, or designated area. That excluded families where the veteran served for years in non-operational roles: training, logistics, administration, base operations. Removing that requirement means those families are now eligible too, provided the service and injury/death criteria are met.
There's no age limit on the children being supported, and no annual application window like the GSF or AVCAT. Legacy accepts new families year-round through their local clubs.
2. Circumstances
There's no means test, and no separate hardship criteria to prove on top of what's already true. If your family meets the essential requirements above, the circumstance that matters - the loss, illness, or injury of a veteran parent or partner - has already been established. Legacy's assessment isn't about your income. It's about what your family has been through.
The wording is "wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service" - illness connected to service counts, not only physical wounds. If you're not certain your family's situation fits, that's a conversation to have with your local Legacy club, not a reason to hold back before you ask.
Legacy also extends this support beyond ADF families. If your Allied veteran ancestor, or an Australian Mariner ancestor, had operational service, their direct descendants and adopted children are covered too.
Get in touch and let your local club help you work out where your family fits. There's no formal test to fail - just a conversation about your circumstances.
3. Digger details and knowledge
A key purpose of Digger scholarships and veteran family support is preserving the memory of service in younger generations. Whether you're talking with your Legatee, gathering documentation for your local club, or a specific Legacy scholarship asks for a written statement, the same thing helps: understanding your ancestor's service properly, not just knowing that it happened.
This is also where families most often leave value on the table. Original service records - especially WWI and WWII papers - are dense pages of faded handwriting, abbreviations, and army shorthand. Decode My Digger takes the records held by the National Archives and turns them into a story told in today's language, anchored to the key events - think Australian Story, for your family's service record. Here's Banjo Paterson's decode as an example.
A decoded record gives you:
- Clear, plain-language evidence of your veteran's service history and dates - useful for your Legacy club and for any DVA paperwork
- The material for a real conversation with your Legatee about what your family's service means
- The confidence to speak to it with your own children, so the story doesn't get lost a generation on
If a specific Legacy scholarship in your area asks for a written statement, the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund's statement prompts are a solid structure to work from.
At $59, it's a small cost against support worth up to $22,500 in scholarships alone.
How to apply
Unlike AVCAT and the GSF, Legacy doesn't run through one national form. It's a federation of local clubs, each with its own intake process and specific programs.
Step 1: Find your local club
Visit legacy.com.au/get-support to find your nearest Legacy club, then contact them directly and explain your family's situation.
Step 2: Confirm eligibility together
Your local club will help you work through the criteria above - the veteran's service, and what happened to them. This is a conversation with a Legatee, not a form to fill out alone.
Step 3: Gather your documents
- Proof of veteran service - service records, discharge papers, or DVA documentation showing the veteran's service history and its connection to their death or injury. A decoded service record from Decode My Digger turns this into plain language for $59, with service dates and history clearly laid out.
- Proof of relationship - birth certificates or other documents establishing your connection to the veteran.
- Your circumstances - your family's current financial and educational situation, and what support would help.
Step 4: Ask about DVA help too
Legacy clubs also assist with DVA paperwork and claims advocacy - VCES, MRCAETS, and other entitlements. If you're navigating the DVA system, ask your Legatee for help with the forms. The system is complex, and an experienced advocate makes a real difference.
What Legacy education support includes
Legacy's education support is more comprehensive than most scholarship programs. It isn't limited to tertiary study - it covers the full education journey from primary school through university.
Tertiary scholarships
Legacy offers tertiary scholarships on an escalating scale:
| Year of study | Scholarship value |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,000 |
| Year 2 | $5,500 |
| Year 3 | $6,000 |
| Year 4 | $6,000 |
| Total (4-year degree) | $22,500 |
The escalating model is designed to keep pace with the costs that build later in a degree - textbooks, placements, research materials, and reduced capacity for part-time work. At $22,500 over four years, it's the highest total-value descendant scholarship in the Australian veteran education landscape.
VET scholarships
Legacy also provides scholarships for vocational education and training - TAFE, VET diplomas, advanced diplomas, and apprenticeships. Values vary by program and Legacy club, so contact your local club for details.
School-level support
This is where Legacy goes beyond what any scholarship program offers. For families in the Legacy system, support isn't limited to tertiary study. It can include:
- School fees and costs - tuition, levies, and enrolment fees
- Uniforms - school uniforms and sports uniforms
- Technology - laptops, tablets, and internet access for study
- After-school activities - music lessons, art classes, sports registration, and equipment
- Emergency funds - for unexpected education-related costs
- Tutoring - additional academic support when needed
Educational disadvantage doesn't start at university. For families where a veteran parent has died or been severely injured, the financial pressure can affect a child's whole educational journey - Legacy's model addresses that from the ground up.
The mentorship model
Legacy's most distinctive feature is its volunteer mentorship program.
When a family comes into Legacy's care, they're assigned a Legatee - a dedicated volunteer who provides ongoing personal support. This isn't a one-off meeting. It's a sustained relationship. Legatees check in, provide friendship, help navigate bureaucracy, advocate for the family's needs, and act as a consistent point of support.
For children, this can mean having a stable, trusted adult who shows up regularly, takes an interest in their education, celebrates their achievements, and helps problem-solve when things get difficult.
How Legacy differs from AVCAT and the GSF
Legacy operates fundamentally differently from AVCAT and the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. Understanding the differences helps you work out where to apply.
| Feature | Legacy | AVCAT Sponsored | GSF |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it provides | Scholarships + school costs + mentorship | Scholarships only | Scholarships only |
| Tertiary value | $5,000-$6,000/year escalating (up to $22,500 total) | $4,000-$6,000/year (up to $18,000 total) | $8,000 (first year only) |
| Covers school-level costs | Yes (uniforms, laptops, activities, tutoring) | No | No |
| Mentorship | Yes (dedicated Legatee volunteer) | No | No |
| Veteran requirement | Died or injured in service, 1+ year continuous service | Operational or 3+ years FT service | Any service, any conflict |
| Who it covers | Families of the veteran | Children and grandchildren | Direct descendants |
| Application method | Contact local Legacy club directly | Online form at avcat.org.au | Online form at gallipolischolarship.com.au |
| Application deadline | Varies by club (often year-round) | 18 Aug - 31 Oct | 1 Jan - 28 Feb |
The key distinction: AVCAT and the GSF provide financial scholarships through a centralised application. Legacy provides financial support plus a person who walks alongside the family. The scholarship is one part of a broader support package.
Legacy also sponsors through AVCAT
In addition to its own direct program, Legacy Australia sponsors a scholarship through the AVCAT network. This is a separate pathway - applied for through the AVCAT form, not through your local Legacy club. If you apply to both AVCAT and Legacy directly, you may be considered for Legacy support through both channels.
Legacy and DVA education schemes
Legacy and DVA operate in related spaces, and many families are eligible for both.
DVA's VCES and MRCAETS schemes provide government-funded education support for children of veterans who have died or been severely injured as a result of service. These are legislative entitlements, not scholarships. They cover education allowances, tutoring, counselling, special assistance up to $3,000, rent, fares, and relocation costs.
Legacy's support can sit alongside DVA schemes:
- DVA schemes provide structured financial entitlements with defined amounts and categories
- Legacy provides flexible support tailored to the family's specific needs, plus personal mentorship
If your family's circumstances fall within both eligibility criteria, access both - your local Legacy club can help you navigate the DVA application process.
Who Legacy is best suited for
Legacy is the right fit if:
- A veteran parent or partner has died or been wounded, ill, or injured as a result of service
- The veteran had at least one year of continuous ADF service
- You need support that goes beyond just a scholarship - school costs, technology, activities, emergency funds, or ongoing mentorship
- Your children are at any stage of education, not just tertiary
- You would benefit from having a dedicated volunteer who provides personal, ongoing support
If you're a descendant of a veteran looking for a scholarship and the veteran is alive and well, Legacy's direct program isn't the right pathway. Look at the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund, AVCAT Sponsored Scholarships, or our complete application guide for the full range of options.
The numbers
- 28,000+ people currently supported by Legacy across Australia
- $22,500 maximum tertiary scholarship value over four years
- $5,000 first-year tertiary scholarship
- 100+ years of continuous operation
- February 2026 - the most significant eligibility expansion in Legacy's history
Next steps
- Visit legacy.com.au/get-support to find your local Legacy club
- Contact the club directly to discuss your family's situation and eligibility
- Gather your veteran's service records - get them decoded if you haven't already
- Ask your Legacy club about DVA scheme assistance if applicable
- Also apply to AVCAT (18 August to 31 October) and the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund (1 January to 28 February) for additional scholarship pathways
For the full picture of every scholarship available to veteran families, see our complete application guide and searchable scholarships database.
Data sourced from Legacy Australia. Last verified 8 June 2026. Legacy operates through local clubs, and specific programs and values may vary by club. Verify eligibility and available support directly with your nearest Legacy club at legacy.com.au.