IPG Mediabrands has partnered with the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC) at the University of Wollongong to sponsor the 2024 Indigenous Nationals.

The media brand has also established the inaugural Woolyungah Scholarship, which will be awarded annually to an undergraduate student of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent at the University of Wollongong who aspires to a career in the media industry.

The Woolyungah Scholarship, valued at $10,000, includes a two-week internship at IPG’s Sydney office with a dedicated mentor, plus financial assistance to cover travel, accommodation, and meals throughout the internship. The 2024 Indigenous Nationals was a week-long multisport competition for Indigenous student athletes hosted by the University of Wollongong, with more than 500 Indigenous students from approximately 33 Australian universities participating.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of our Innovate-Level RAP is the relationship we have developed with WIC, which directly led to the opportunity to sponsor the Indigenous Nationals, and importantly enabled us to engage with potential future media industry talent," Monique Black, Head of Talent Acquisition at IPG Mediabrands, said.

Jaymee Beveridge, UOW Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy, praised IPG Mediabrands for their commitment to advancing spaces for Indigenous people.

"The organic nature of our partnership was built on a clear values alignment and a desire from IPG Mediabrands to authentically engage with WIC and our students - with the goal to tailor their commitments to our students’ needs," she said.

CEO Mediabrands, Mark Coad, highlighted the importance of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their career dreams.

"Sponsoring the Indigenous Nationals via our partnership with Woolyungah Indigenous Centre allowed us to directly engage with the community and we look forward to welcoming the successful recipient of our inaugural Woolyungah Scholarship to IPG Mediabrands next year," he said.